The 2026 Session of the Virginia General Assembly adjourned Sine Die,
i.e., final adjournment, on Saturday, March 14, 2026, with lawmakers stalled on
the FY2026-FY2028 biennium budget. Following defeat of both HB30 and SB30 budget
amendments and with budget conferees unable to reach an agreement, lawmakers
are set to return for a Special Session at a date to be determined.
The Virginia House of Delegates and the Senate of Virginia introduced a
total of 2,328 bills, with 1,337 bills making their way to
crossover. Several pieces of legislation were sent to a conference committee
composed of members from both chambers to reach an agreement.
As of March 16, 2026, bills in conference have now either reported,
failed to reach an agreement, or have been left in conference, with several other
bills awaiting Governor’s action.
Under Virginia law, the governor has 30 days to sign, veto or recommend
amendments to legislation passed by the House and Senate. If no action is taken
within that timeframe, the bills automatically become law.
Here
are a few of the bills currently at the Governor’s desk. Please note that
this is not an exhaustive list of legislation pertaining to public education:
HB 18 - Employee
Child Care Assistance Pilot Program; established, reports.
HB 38 - Public
schools; mental health awareness training and instruction, requirements.
HB116 & SB824 - School board
employee grievance procedure; timing of dispute resolution.
HB125 - Public school
teachers; reemployment of teacher who has not received continuing contract
status.
HB139 - School board
policies; unpaid educational leave for certain employee association officers.
HB210 - School meal
debt; each school board to annually report.
HB332 & SB203- Teacher
licensure; career and technical education or dual enrollment; three-year
licenses.
HB355 - Public school
students in grades six through 12; annual mental health screening.
HB468 - Students with
disabilities; development of a model transition IEP, access by students,
report.
HB544 - School
Construction and Modernization, Commission on; revisions, elimination of
sunset.
HB592 - Public
schools; wearable panic alarm systems, grant program.
HB643 - School
Performance and Support Framework; Board of Education to consider certain
changes, report.
HB849 - Public school
employees; suspension, notice and opportunity for a hearing.
HB924 - Public
Instruction, Super. of; state program to support improvement of low-preforming
schools.
HB1455 & SB815 - School bds.;
opening of school year, certain alternative schedules & schedule
flexibility permitted.
SB245 - School
boards; use of social media by schools, etc.
SB529 - Public
schools; school security and discipline, employment of school security
officers, training.
SB530 - Conflict of
Interests Act, State/Local Gov't.; electronic discl. by local govt officers
& employees.
SB699 - Virginia
Freedom of Information Act; public bodies to post meeting agendas.
SB817 - School bds;
parental notification of course registration deadlines and processes required,
policies.
HB544 - School Construction and
Modernization, Commission on; revisions, elimination of sunset.
SB30 (budget bill) - 4-14 #1s School Construction Sales
Tax.
The
VSBA Executive Director and lobbyists are in daily contact discussing proposed
legislation and the VSBA Legislative Positions that drive the Association’s
lobbying efforts, including the decision to send action alerts to the
membership. The Association's lobbying efforts are based on positions contained
in the VSBA Legislative Positions Handbook that is approved each year by the
VSBA Delegate Assembly. Local school boards are not bound to this handbook and
can adopt local positions on legislation and policy.
If
you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Sofhia
Pineda, Government Relations Specialist, at 434-326-2350 or sofhia@vsba.org.
