Governor Spanberger Signs Two-Year Spending Plan

Governor Abigail Spanberger has signed Virginia's 2026–2028 Biennial Budget into law following a long-awaited budget agreement between House and Senate leadership. The final budget includes several new revenue streams for the Commonwealth and fully funds mandated programs and legislative priorities over the two-year budget cycle.

For public education, the budget builds upon the historic investments made during the 2024–2026 biennium by providing an additional $1.8 billion in state support over the next two fiscal years. The budget also authorizes local referenda, beginning November 3, 2026, allowing localities to consider a 1% local option sales tax dedicated to school construction. Additionally, it provides $449.8 million to fully fund rebenchmarking, including updated student enrollment projections and recognition of ongoing costs for school divisions.

To support Virginia's education workforce, the budget includes $560.3 million for the state's share of 4% salary increases in each fiscal year of the biennium. This investment is in addition to the $117.6 million previously approved in the caboose budget for the state's share of a $1,500 bonus per funded position, which school divisions may choose to distribute during fiscal year 2027.

Budget conferees also included a one-time $98.4 million supplement to the At-Risk Add-On, providing school divisions with additional flexibility to address local operating or capital needs over the biennium. This initiative was a key Senate budget priority during this year's negotiations.

For students with disabilities, the budget doubles last year's additional funding by providing $148.4 million in enhanced support. It also expands eligibility for the Students with Intensive Support Needs Add-On (SISNA), increasing assistance for students with the most significant and complex educational needs.

To view the Conference Report for the 2026-2028 direct aid to public education estimated distribution per school division for FY 2027 and FY2028, click here.

For more information regarding budget items for public education, click here.

If you have any questions regarding Virginia's next biennium budget, please contact Sofhia Pineda, VSBA Government Relations Specialist, at sofhia@vsba.org.



Thank you for all you do on behalf of public education in the Commonwealth!

 

Best,

 

Sofhia Pineda

VSBA, Government Relations Specialist 

Governor's amendments heading back to the General Assembly

Governor Abigail Spanberger’s deadline to take action on legislation passed by the Virginia Senate and Virginia House of Delegates was April 13, 2026. Of the 153 bills tracked by the Virginia School Boards Association Government Relations team that advanced beyond the General Assembly, 130 were signed into law.

The Governor also issued amendments to 23 bills within our legislative tracker, including:

• SB378 & HB1263 – Collective bargaining for public employees. 
• HB1207 & SB2 – Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program.
• HB290 – False statements regarding school division or attendance zone residency; penalties. 

The full list of the 153 bills—including those enacted into law and those returned to the General Assembly for consideration of the Governor’s amendments—is available for review here. 

This week, the Virginia General Assembly will reconvene for two sessions: a Reconvene Session on Wednesday, April 22, followed by a Special Session on Thursday, April 23. 

Stay tuned for more updates later this week on the Governor's amendments. 

Sofhia Pineda
Government Relations Specialist
Virginia School Boards Association
200 Hansen Road, Suite 2
Charlottesville, VA 22911
800-466-8722 or 434-295-8722 Office
sofhia@vsba.org, www.vsba.org

Governor Spanberger signs bipartisan bills to strengthen schools and support students

Governor Abigail Spanberger signed bills to support high school career and technical education, streamline financial aid, & empower parents to engage in their child’s course selection. 

Additionally, the Governor signed legislation into law to strengthen school construction and modernization planning, following her executive order focused on strengthening K-12 schools, helping students succeed, and hearing directly from parents, educators, students, and school leaders. 

Click here to watch Governor Spanberger speak on the education bills signed into law. 

Governor Spanberger signed the following bills into law to strengthen schools and support students:

• HB332 (Delegate Sam Rasoul), SB203 (Senator David Suetterlein). Making it easier to get career and technical education teachers into the classroom. Passed unanimously. 

• SB592 (Senator Lamont Bagby). Aligning career and technical education course offerings with emerging industry and workforce needs. Passed unanimously. 

• HB544 (Delegate Alex Askew), SB498 (Senator Lashrecse Aird). Supporting new investment in K-12 schools by making the Commission on School Construction and Modernization permanent and requiring a 10-year capital roadmap. Passed unanimously.

• HB211 (Delegate Debra Gardner). Studying barriers to Head Start and Early Head Start participation in Virginia. Passed with bipartisan support. 

• HB1221 (Delegate Briana Sewell), SB167 (Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg). Cutting red tape by streamlining Virginia’s higher education financial aid programs to reduce confusion and help Virginia students apply for awards. Passed unanimously.  

• HB924 (Delegate Sam Rasoul). Directing the Board of Education and Superintendent of Public Instruction to support the improvement of low-performing schools. Passed with bipartisan support. 

• HB299 (Delegate Dan Helmer), SB200 (Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg). Strengthening the administration of Standards of Learning assessments. Passed with bipartisan support. 

• SB817 (Senator David Suetterlein). Empowering parents by requiring schools to notify parents of student course enrollment deadlines and the process for requesting changes to course selection. Passed unanimously. 

• HB1243 (Delegate Israel O’Quinn). Ensuring state accountability ratings accurately reflect student achievement growth. Passed unanimously. 

• HB647 (Delegate Hillary Kent). Helping more career and technical education instructors get licensed. Passed unanimously. 

• HB206 (Delegate Karen Keys-Gamarra). Giving parents additional information about administration of college partnership laboratory schools. Passed with bipartisan support. 

• SB108 (Senator Stella Pekarsky). Making clear the prohibition on student cellphone and smart device use on school property from bell to bell, helping public school students learn in a distraction-free environment during class time and focus on social interaction during lunch. Passed with bipartisan support. 

• HB1486 (Delegate Sam Rasoul), SB568 (Senator Glen Sturtevant). Instructing students on the addictive potential of electronic devices. Passed with bipartisan support. 

• SB245 (Senator Christopher Head). Prohibiting schools from using social media as the sole method of communicating with students about school-related extracurricular activities. Passed unanimously. 

Governor Spanberger signed the following bills into law to help keep students safe and healthy at school and in their communities:

• HB1086 (Delegate Amy Laufer). Encouraging K-12 schools to purchase fresh school meal ingredients from Virginia farmers and producers. Passed unanimously. 

• HB832 (Delegate Kimberly Pope Adams). Assisting Governor’s Schools in increasing meal offerings available to all students. Passed with bipartisan support. 

• HB705 (Delegate Cliff Hayes), SB151 (Senator Christie New Craig). Developing a statewide program of instruction on water safety for elementary school students. Passed with bipartisan support. 

• HB957 (Delegate Elizabeth Guzman). Ensuring school divisions have information about the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in K-12 schools. Passed unanimously. 

• HB971 (Delegate Cia Price). Protecting student-athlete’s biometric data. Passed with bipartisan support. 

• SB529 (Senator Danny Diggs). Focusing the training of school security officers on emergency procedures and responding to behavioral threats in schools. Passed unanimously. 

• HB1301 (Delegate Josh Thomas), SB122 (Senator Jeremy McPike). Supporting students with diabetes. Passed unanimously.

Sofhia Pineda

Government Relations Specialist

Virginia School Boards Association

200 Hansen Road, Suite 2

Charlottesville, VA 22911

800-466-8722 or 434-295-8722 Office

sofhia@vsba.org, www.vsba.org

Governor Spanberger begins signing 2026 bills into law

The 2026 Virginia General Assembly officially adjourned on March 14, 2026. Governor Spanberger has until April 13, 2026, to take action on legislation by signing, vetoing, or recommending amendments to bills passed by the General Assembly.

Below are several education-related bills that have been signed thus far. 

HB38

(CHAP0047)

Public schools; mental health awareness training and instruction, requirements.

• Mandate- Mental health awareness training to include youth populations that are at high risk of experiencing mental health challenges, youth experiencing homelessness, suicide, foster care, identify as LGBTQ+.

HB171

(CHAP0048)

Student instruction; internet safety, policy to include key modern digital safety topics.

• Mandate- school board to review the acceptable use policy for internet and internet safety in a division's instructional program that includes instruction on modern digital safety topics, including online scams, misinformation, and AI generated content. 

HB195

(CHAP0049)

Programs for at-risk students; permissible uses of funding.

• Creates the At-Risk Program grants (gets rid of block grant program) and extends the use of funds to initiatives to support a student's physical and mental health, hiring licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and advanced practice registered nurses. 

SB33

(CHAP0050)

Programs for at-risk students; permissible uses of funding.

• Creates the At-Risk Program grants (gets rid of block grant program) and extends the use of funds to initiatives to support a student's physical and mental health, hiring licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and advanced practice registered nurses. 

HB210

(CHAP0054)

School meal debt; each school board to annually report.

• Mandate- each school board to annually report to the VDOE the amount of school meal debt in the local school division. No personally identifiable student information should be contained in the report. 

HB592

(CHAP0045)

Public schools; wearable panic alarm systems.

• Permissive- school boards may provide their employees in a public elementary and secondary school with a wearable panic alarm system. 

HB1071

(CHAP0046)

Public elementary and secondary schools & higher educational institutions; threat assessment teams.

• Mandate- to include in existing annual training a specific education and training on the use of emergency substantial risk orders and substantial risk orders to address the risk of harm to self or others posed by a student's access to a firearm (developed in consultation between the VDOE and the Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety).  

Sofhia Pineda

Government Relations Specialist

Virginia School Boards Association

200 Hansen Road, Suite 2

Charlottesville, VA 22911

800-466-8722 or 434-295-8722 Office

sofhia@vsba.org, www.vsba.org