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.
(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+.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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
