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(HigherEd) Higher Education

HB 29 Budget Bill.

Chief patron: Torian

Summary as introduced:
Budget Bill. Amends Chapter 2 of the Acts of Assembly of 2022, Special Session I, as amended by Chapter 769 of the Acts of Assembly of 2023, as further amended by Chapter 1 of the Acts of Assembly of 2023, Special Session I,

02/28/24 House: House acceded to request
02/28/24 House: Conferees appointed by House
02/28/24 House: Delegates: Torian, Sickles, Bulova, Carr, Austin, Bloxom
02/28/24 Senate: Conferees appointed by Senate
02/28/24 Senate: Senators: Lucas, Deeds, Locke, Boysko, McDougle, Pillion

HB 30 Budget Bill.

Chief patron: Torian

Summary as introduced:
Budget Bill. Provides for all appropriations of the Budget submitted by the Governor of Virginia in accordance with the provisions of § 2.2-1509 of the Code of Virginia, and provides a portion of revenues for the two years ending respectively on the thirtieth day of June 2025 and the thirtieth day of June 2026.

HB 48 Higher educational institutions, public; admissions applications, legacy admissions, etc.

Chief patron: Helmer

Summary as introduced:

Public institutions of higher education; admissions applications; legacy admissions and admissions based on donor status prohibited. Prohibits any public institution of higher education from providing any manner of preferential treatment in the admissions decision to any student applicant on the basis of such student's legacy status, defined in the bill, or such student's familial relationship to any donor to such institution. This bill is identical to SB 46.

02/21/24 House: Signed by Speaker
02/24/24 Senate: Signed by President
02/26/24 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB48ER)
03/01/24 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 1, 2024
03/01/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 8, 2024

HB 83 Comprehensive community colleges and school boards; dual enrollment agreements, parameters.

Chief patron: Scott, P.A.

Summary as introduced:
Comprehensive community colleges and school boards; dual enrollment agreements; parameters. Requires dual enrollment agreements between comprehensive community colleges and school boards to permit any student to complete an associate degree, the Passport Program, or a one-year Uniform Certificate of General Studies from a comprehensive community college concurrent with a high school diploma or high school equivalency program. Current law requires such agreements to specify options for students to complete an associate degree, the Passport Program, or a one-year Uniform Certificate of General Studies from a comprehensive community college concurrent with a high school diploma.

12/27/23 House: Referred to Committee on Education
01/18/24 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB83)
01/19/24 House: Assigned Education sub: K-12 Subcommittee
01/30/24 House: House subcommittee amendments and substitutes offered
02/13/24 House: Left in Education

HB 163 Higher educational institutions, public; student identification cards, emergency services website.

Chief patron: Cole

Summary as passed House:
Public institutions of higher education; student identification cards; emergency services website page and telephone numbers. Requires each public institution of higher education to maintain and annually update as necessary to ensure accuracy and currency a website page that includes telephone numbers for certain emergency services enumerated in the bill and to include (i) the URL of such website page on each new digital student identification card and any replacement digital student identification card issued by the institution beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year and (ii) the URL of or a QR Code that directs to such website page on each new physical student identification card and any replacement physical student identification card issued by the institution beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year.

02/23/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N)
02/26/24 Senate: Read third time
02/26/24 Senate: Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)
02/29/24 House: Enrolled
02/29/24 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB163ER)

HB 207 Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program; established, report.

Chief patron: Simonds

Summary as introduced:
Public institutions of higher education; Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program; established. Establishes the Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program (the Program) to address student hunger at public institutions of higher education. The bill provides that the Program shall be managed by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and available for participation by public institutions of higher education; however, participation in the Program shall be optional for such institutions. Under the bill, if a public institution of higher education satisfies certain criteria set out in the bill, including creating initiatives on campus to address student hunger, it shall be designated as a "Hunger-Free Campus" and the Council shall award a grant to such institution. A public institution of higher education that receives a grant under the bill shall utilize the funds to support on-campus efforts and initiatives to eliminate student hunger at such institution. The bill requires the Council to submit a report to the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the House Committee on Education no later than two years after the establishment of the Program that shall include (i) the total number and amounts of grant awards, (ii) information about the impact that the Program has had on establishing additional hunger-free campuses at public institutions of higher education and reducing the number of students experiencing food insecurity, and (iii) recommendations regarding the potential establishment of an annual appropriation for the Program.

01/04/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101303D
01/04/24 House: Referred to Committee on Education
01/19/24 House: Assigned Education sub: Higher Education
01/22/24 House: Subcommittee recommends incorporating (HB827-Cousins)
01/24/24 House: Incorporated by Education (HB827-Cousins)

HB 211 Higher educational institutions, public; Dept. of Education to audit education preparation programs.

Chief patron: Martinez

Summary as introduced:
Department of Education; audit of education preparation programs at public institutions of higher education; science-based reading research and evidence-based literacy instruction; frequency. Changes from once every seven years to biennially the frequency with which the Department of Education is required to audit each education preparation program for compliance with the requirements set forth in relevant law relating to student coursework and mastery in science-based reading research and evidence-based literacy instruction.

01/19/24 House: Assigned Education sub: Higher Education
01/26/24 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB211)
02/05/24 House: House subcommittee amendments and substitutes offered
02/05/24 House: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025
02/07/24 House: Continued to 2025 in Education

HB 369 Sexual misconduct policies; SCHEV to convene task force on combating violence, civil penalty.

Chief patron: Martinez

Summary as introduced:
Institutions of higher education; sexual misconduct policies; civil penalty. Requires the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to appoint and convene a task force on combating sexual violence for the purpose of developing a base sexual misconduct campus climate survey to be distributed to institutions of higher education no less than annually. The bill defines "institution of higher education" as any public institution of higher education or any private institution of higher education. The bill permits each institution of higher education to append campus-specific questions to the base survey and, within 120 days after completion of the survey, requires each institution to submit a summary of the results to the Director of the Council and post a summary of the results on the institution's website in an easily accessible manner. The bill also requires survey data to be posted on the Council's website.

The bill directs each institution of higher education to establish a written memorandum of understanding with a sexual assault crisis center, domestic violence center, or other victim support service in order to provide sexual assault victims with immediate access to a confidential, independent advocate who can provide a trauma-informed response that includes an explanation of options for moving forward. Currently, only Richard Bland College and each baccalaureate public institution of higher education and nonprofit private institution of higher education are required to enter into such agreements.

The bill requires each institution of higher education to include in its campus security policy the designation of at least one confidential resource advisor whose role shall be to serve as a confidential resource for students and employees to discuss alleged acts of sexual misconduct and receive information on resources available to such students or employees. The bill creates a statutory privilege between the confidential resource advisor and a student or employee who is sharing information with such confidential resource advisor. The bill sets out required awareness programming and training for students and employees to be conducted each year by each institution of higher education. The bill also requires each institution of higher education to adopt a policy on sexual misconduct that includes information set out in the bill and provides information that the institution shall provide to parties involved in an alleged incident of sexual misconduct.

The bill sets forth data reporting requirements of sexual misconduct incidences and investigations that each institution of higher education shall prepare annually. After reasonable notice and opportunity for a hearing, upon determination that an institution of higher education has violated or failed to carry out any provision or any rule adopted under the bill, the Director may impose a civil penalty upon such institution for each violation not to exceed $150,000, which shall be adjusted for inflation annually, or one percent of an institution's annual operating budget, whichever is lower.

01/06/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101931D
01/06/24 House: Referred to Committee on Rules
01/25/24 House: Assigned Rules sub: Studies Subcommittee
01/29/24 House: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025
02/01/24 House: Continued to 2025 in Rules

HB 486 Virginia Higher Education Scholarship Act Fund and Program; created and established.

Chief patron: Garrett

Summary as introduced:
Certain public institutions of higher education; enrollment limitations in incoming freshman classes; Virginia Higher Education Scholarship Act Fund and Program established. Requires, beginning with the incoming freshman class in the 2025 academic year, the board of visitors of each baccalaureate public institution of higher education, with the exception of Norfolk State University, Virginia Military Institute, and Virginia State University, to ensure that the annual percentage of undergraduate non-Virginia students in each incoming freshman class does not exceed 45 percent. The bill also establishes the Virginia Higher Education Scholarship Act Fund and Program whereby certain Virginia public high school graduates who graduated at or near the top of their graduating classes are permitted to apply to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia for a scholarship in an amount equal to the cost of tuition, room and board, and mandatory fees to attend a public institution of higher education enumerated in the bill for eight semesters.

01/08/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24102067D
01/08/24 House: Referred to Committee on Education
01/19/24 House: Assigned Education sub: Higher Education
01/29/24 House: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025
01/31/24 House: Continued to 2025 in Education

HB 509 Public institutions of higher education; policies; individuals with disabilities.

Chief patron: Cohen

Summary as passed House:

Public institutions of higher education; policies; individuals with disabilities; documentation or evidence. Requires each public institution of higher education to adopt a policy that makes certain documentation or evidence enumerated in the bill that is submitted by an enrolled or admitted student sufficient to establish that the student is an individual with a disability. The bill requires each such policy to include a transparent and explicit process by which the institution determines eligibility for accommodations for an individual with a disability and requires each such institution to disseminate information about such process to students, including all new students to the parents of students as appropriate, and to faculty in accessible formats and make such information available in a conspicuous and publicly accessible manner, including on the institution's website.

02/26/24 House: House acceded to request
02/28/24 Senate: Conferees appointed by Senate
02/28/24 Senate: Senators: Salim, Hashmi, Pillion
02/28/24 House: Conferees appointed by House
02/28/24 House: Delegates: Cohen, Rasoul, Tata

HB 566 SCHEV; membership to include representative of a historically black college or university.

Chief patron: Askew

Summary as passed House:

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; membership; representative of a historically black college or university. Requires the membership of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to include at least one nonlegislative citizen member who has served as a chief executive officer of one of the Commonwealth's historically black colleges or universities. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026.

HB 690 Higher educational institutions; campus safety, governing board of certain educational institutions.

Chief patron: O'Quinn

Summary as introduced:
Institutions of higher education; campus safety; governing boards of certain educational institutions; employment of security services and personnel authorized. Authorizes the governing board of certain educational institutions, including the A.L. Philpott Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, the New College Institute, the Roanoke Higher Education Authority, the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center, and the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, to establish and maintain a campus security department and to employ security personnel. Under current law, the governing board of any such educational institution is only authorized to contract for security services.

02/23/24 Senate: Assigned Education and Health Sub: Higher Education
02/26/24 Senate: Senate subcommittee amendments and substitutes offered
02/29/24 Senate: Reported from Education and Health with substitute (15-Y 0-N)
02/29/24 Senate: Committee substitute printed 24108259D-S1
03/01/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N)

HB 706 Public secondary schools; Internet safety education required, report.

Chief patron: Webert

Summary as introduced:
Public secondary schools; public institutions of higher education; Internet safety education required; report. Requires the Board of Education to develop and approve objectives for Internet safety education at the middle and high school grade levels to be required of all students in grades six through 12, and to provide for the infusion of such objectives in the relevant Standards of Learning and in career and technical education. The bill also requires the Board, in consultation with the Internet Safety Advisory Council or another appropriate entity, to develop a model curriculum for such Internet safety education. The bill requires each public secondary school to provide instruction on Internet safety education in accordance with the educational objectives and model curriculum developed by the Board. The bill also requires each public institution of higher education to provide instruction on the principles of Internet safety as a part of an existing general education course, a first-year orientation program, or another appropriate program or course and directs the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to encourage private institutions of higher education to provide instruction on the principles of Internet safety.

01/09/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101130D
01/09/24 House: Referred to Committee on Education
01/19/24 House: Assigned Education sub: K-12 Subcommittee
02/06/24 House: Subcommittee recommends striking from docket (8-Y 0-N)
02/13/24 House: Left in Education

HB 711 Commonwealth of Virginia Higher Education Institutions Bond Act of 2024; created.

Chief patron: Torian

Summary as passed House:

Bonds for public institutions of higher learning; emergency. Authorizes issuance of bonds in an amount up to $124,285,000 for revenue-producing capital projects at James Madison University, Virginia State University, and The College of William and Mary in Virginia. The bill contains an emergency clause and is identical to SB 599.

EMERGENCY

02/07/24 Senate: Referred to Committee on Finance and Appropriations
02/27/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N)
02/27/24 Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
02/28/24 Senate: Read third time
02/28/24 Senate: Passed Senate (39-Y 0-N)

HB 713 Higher educational institutions; campus safety and emergency preparedness training.

Chief patron: Torian

Summary as passed House:

Institutions of higher education; campus safety and emergency preparedness training; first-year completion and biennial review. Requires the governing board of each public institution of higher education to develop and implement policies requiring that a campus safety and emergency preparedness training program be provided to and completed by all first-year students by the last day of each student's first academic term and reviewed biennially by each returning student at such institution. The bill provides that such training program will focus on active shooter event preparedness and may be offered in any format and include any supplementary materials as the governing board of each such institution deems appropriate. Finally, the bill directs the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to encourage private institutions of higher education to develop and implement policies requiring a campus safety and emergency preparedness training program be provided to each first-year student by the last day of each student's first academic term and reviewed biennially by each returning student at such institution.

HB 827 On-campus food insecurity; SCHEV to survey institutions to determine how they are addressing issue.

Chief patron: Cousins

Summary as passed House:

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; survey on campus food insecurity; report. Requires the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to (i) survey each public institution of higher education to determine how each such institution is addressing on-campus food insecurity, including specific methods, programs, sources of funding, expenditures, communications strategies, and staffing; (ii) compile and make available to each such institution a guidance document containing best practices for leveraging all available resources and opportunities, including public benefits programs and donation programs, to ensure that students do not face food insecurity on campus; and (iii) report its findings and any recommendations to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations, the House Committee on Education, the Senate Committee on Education and Health, and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations no later than November 1, 2024.

02/13/24 House: VOTE: Passage (59-Y 40-N)
02/14/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed
02/14/24 Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health
02/23/24 Senate: Assigned Education and Health Sub: Higher Education
02/29/24 Senate: Reported from Education and Health (14-Y 1-N)

HB 881 Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program; established, report.

Chief patron: Bulova

01/26/24 House: Referred from Rules
01/26/24 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations
01/26/24 House: Assigned App. sub: Higher Education
01/31/24 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (8-Y 0-N)
02/13/24 House: Left in Appropriations

HB 980 Higher ed. institutions; students who report acts of hazing or bullying, referral for support.

Chief patron: Tran

Summary as passed House:

Institutions of higher education; students who report act of hazing or bullying experienced as result of report of act of hazing; on-campus mental and behavioral health support. Requires each public institution of higher education and nonprofit private institution of higher education to provide information about on-campus individuals or entities that are qualified to provide the appropriate ongoing mental and behavioral health support to any student who reports to the institution an act of hazing or an act of bullying experienced as the result of a report of an act of hazing.

02/14/24 Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health
02/23/24 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB980H1)
02/23/24 Senate: Assigned Education and Health Sub: Higher Education
02/29/24 Senate: Reported from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)
03/01/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N)

HB 981 Higher ed. institutions, public; tuition and financial aid, dependency override application form.

Chief patron: Willett

Summary as introduced:
Public institutions of higher education; tuition and financial aid; dependency override application form. Requires each public institution of higher education to develop, maintain, and post publicly on the financial aid page of such institution's website informational materials relating to the dependency override application process and to review and update such materials as necessary to reflect current federal law and guidance on such process. The bill requires such informational materials to include, in a language and format accessible to students enrolled at and potential applicants for admission to such institution, (i) an explanation of the purpose of and eligibility requirements for a dependency override, (ii) an explicit list of the circumstances on which a student may base a dependency override application, (iii) an explanation of the dependency override application process at such institution, and (iv) links to relevant federal guidance on the dependency override process.

01/09/24 House: Referred to Committee on Education
01/19/24 House: Assigned Education sub: Higher Education
01/19/24 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB981)
01/29/24 House: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025
01/31/24 House: Continued to 2025 in Education

HB 1044 Higher Education for Virginia, State Council of; membership.

Chief patron: Rasoul

Summary as introduced:

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; membership. Requires the membership of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to include at least one nonlegislative citizen member who has served as a chief executive officer of an accredited nonprofit private institution of higher education whose primary purpose is to provide collegiate, graduate, or professional education and not to provide religious training or theological education. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026, and is identical to SB 159.

02/22/24 House: Signed by Speaker
02/25/24 Senate: Signed by President
02/26/24 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1044ER)
03/01/24 House: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 1, 2024
03/01/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 8, 2024

HB 1051 Public education; dual enrollment and concurrent enrollment, high school graduation.

Chief patron: Batten

Summary as introduced:
Public education; dual enrollment and concurrent enrollment; high school graduation. Makes several changes relating to graduation from a public high school in the Commonwealth, including (i) eliminating the requirement for a student to complete one virtual course in order to graduate from high school and (ii) specifying that various options and requirements relating to earning career and technical education credentials for the purpose of satisfying high school graduation requirements are required to be high-demand career and technical education credentials. The bill also defines and thereby distinguishes the concepts of dual enrollment and concurrent enrollment in the context of high school students' participation in college-level coursework and requires the agreements for postsecondary attainment between school boards and comprehensive community colleges to specify the credit available for dual enrollment and concurrent enrollment courses.

01/10/24 House: Referred to Committee on Education
02/04/24 House: Assigned Education sub: Higher Education
02/05/24 House: House subcommittee amendments and substitutes offered
02/05/24 House: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025
02/07/24 House: Continued to 2025 in Education

HB 1079 Early College Model Program; established.

Chief patron: Coyner

Summary as introduced:
College partnership laboratory schools; Early College Model Program established. Establishes the Early College Model Program whereby any public institution of higher education may establish a college partnership laboratory school in which each enrolled high school student earns, at no cost to the student, an associate degree or a bachelor's degree concurrently with a high school diploma. Under the bill, provisions of existing law relating to the establishment of college partnership laboratory schools apply to such schools established pursuant to the Program but with certain conditions and exceptions, including (i) requiring a college partnership laboratory school established pursuant to the Program to be administered and governed by the Department of Education and (ii) prohibiting any enrolled student from being charged tuition for the college courses in which the student is dually enrolled and requiring the college partnership laboratory school to receive the statewide average share of Standards of Quality per pupil state funding, including the per pupil share of state sales tax funding in basic aid, for each student enrolled in such school to support the instruction of each such student in the fall and spring semesters.

01/10/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24100545D
01/10/24 House: Referred to Committee on Education
01/22/24 House: Stricken from docket by Education (21-Y 0-N)

HB 1083 VA Education & Workforce Longitudinal Data System; administration by Office of Education Economics.

Chief patron: Coyner

Summary as passed House:

Office of Education Economics; administration of the Virginia Education and Workforce Longitudinal Data System; report. Renames the Virginia Longitudinal Data System as the Virginia Education and Workforce Longitudinal Data System (the System), shifts the duty to administer the System from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to the Office of Education Economics (the Office) of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, and establishes several duties for the Office relating to the administration of the System, including collaborating with the Office of Data Governance and Analytics, developing a strategic plan, overseeing compliance regarding the protection of data shared with the System, and establishing the research agenda for the System. The bill requires the Virginia Information Technologies Agency to provide technical assistance to the Office relating to the administration of the System.

02/28/24 Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute HB1083S1
02/28/24 Senate: Passed Senate with substitute (39-Y 0-N)
03/01/24 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1083S1)
03/01/24 House: Senate substitute rejected by House 24108355D-S1 (1-Y 94-N 1-A)
03/01/24 House: VOTE: REJECTED (1-Y 94-N 1-A)

HB 1087 College and Career Ready Virginia Program and Fund; established, report.

Chief patron: Coyner

Summary as passed House:

Department of Education and Virginia Community College System; College and Career Ready Virginia Program and Fund established. Establishes the College and Career Ready Virginia Fund and requires the Department of Education and the Virginia Community College System to establish the College and Career Ready Virginia Program whereby each school board is required to offer each qualified high school student in the local school division access at the high school to the dual enrollment courses that are sufficient to complete the Passport Program and the former Uniform Certificate of General Studies Program, renamed in the bill as the Passport Plus Program, at a public institution of higher education at no cost to such students, beginning with course registrations for the fall term of the 2025 academic year. The bill establishes several enumerated duties for the Department and the System in the administration of the College and Career Ready Virginia Program, including the establishment of a work group to make recommendations no later than November 1, 2024, on the incorporation of a career and technical education program of coursework into the College and Career Ready Virginia Program.

02/28/24 Senate: Committee substitute agreed to 24108314D-S1
02/28/24 Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute HB1087S1
02/28/24 Senate: Passed Senate with substitute (39-Y 0-N)
03/01/24 House: Senate substitute rejected by House 24108314D-S1 (0-Y 97-N)
03/01/24 House: VOTE: REJECTED (0-Y 97-N)

HB 1120 K-12 schools and higher educational institutions; student participation in women's sports, etc.

Chief patron: Oates

Summary as introduced:

K-12 schools and institutions of higher education; student participation in women's sports; civil cause of action. Requires each interscholastic, intercollegiate, intramural, or club athletic team or sport sponsored by a public school, or any other school that is a member of the Virginia High School League, or by a public institution of higher education to be expressly designated as one of the following based on the biological sex of the students who participate on the team or in the sport: (i) males, men, or boys; (ii) females, women, or girls; or (iii) coed or mixed if participation on such team or sport is open to both males and females. The bill prohibits any such team or sport that is expressly designated for females from being open to students whose biological sex is male. The bill also provides that in the event of a dispute as to the biological sex of any student seeking to participate on any interscholastic, intercollegiate, intramural, or club athletic team or sport that is expressly designated for males or females, such student may establish biological sex by presenting to the school or institution a signed physician's statement that attests to such student's biological sex based solely on (a) the student's internal and external reproductive anatomy; (b) the student's normal endogenously produced levels of testosterone; and (c) an analysis of the student's genetic makeup.

The bill prohibits any government entity, licensing or accrediting organization, or athletic association or organization from entertaining a complaint, opening an investigation, or taking any other adverse action against any such school or institution of higher education based on a violation of the provisions of the bill and creates a cause of action for any school or institution of higher education that suffers harm as a result of a violation of the bill. Finally, the bill creates a civil cause of action for any student who suffers harm as a result of a knowing violation of a provision of the bill by a school or institution or as a result of the student's reporting a violation of a provision of the bill by a school, institution, athletic association, or organization.

01/10/24 House: Referred to Committee on Education
02/01/24 House: Assigned Education sub: K-12 Subcommittee
02/05/24 House: House subcommittee amendments and substitutes offered
02/06/24 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (5-Y 2-N)
02/13/24 House: Left in Education

HB 1229 Elementary & secondary schools & higher educational institutions; student participation in sports.

Chief patron: Higgins

Summary as introduced:
Elementary and secondary schools and institutions of higher education; student participation in sports; access to restrooms and changing rooms. Requires each interscholastic, intercollegiate, intramural, or club athletic team or sport sponsored by a public school, or any other school that is a member of the Virginia High School League, or by a public institution of higher education to be expressly designated as one of the following based on biological sex: (i) males, men, or boys; (ii) females, women, or girls; or (iii) coed or mixed if participation on such team or sport is open to both males, men, or boys and females, women, or girls. The bill prohibits any such team or sport that is expressly designated for females, women, or girls from being open to students whose biological sex is male. The bill creates a civil cause of action for any student that suffers harm as a result of a knowing violation of a provision of the bill by a school or institution or as a result of the student's reporting a violation of a provision of the bill by a school, institution, athletic association, or organization. The bill also limits access to any restroom or changing room that is capable of being accessed by more than one individual at one time in any public elementary or secondary school building or building owned or controlled by any public institution of higher education exclusively to individuals of the same biological sex.

01/10/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24103418D
01/10/24 House: Referred to Committee on Education
02/01/24 House: Assigned Education sub: K-12 Subcommittee
02/06/24 House: Subcommittee recommends striking from docket (8-Y 0-N)
02/13/24 House: Left in Education

HB 1255 Higher educational institutions, public; diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Chief patron: Milde

Summary as introduced:
Public institutions of higher education; diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; annual certification. Requires the chief executive officer of each public institution of higher education to annually submit to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, the Governor, and the Chairmen of the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education of Health no later than August 1 a written, signed certification that no diversity, equity, and inclusion-related program, instruction, or initiative provided or sponsored by such institution promotes anti-Semitism.

01/10/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24103182D
01/10/24 House: Referred to Committee on Rules
02/13/24 House: Left in Rules

HB 1307 Higher educational institutions, baccalaureate public; student application fees, report.

Chief patron: Reaser

Summary as introduced:

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; survey; baccalaureate public institutions of higher education; student application fees; report. Requires the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to survey each baccalaureate public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth to determine, for the 2023–2024 academic year, (i) the median, average, and full per-student application fee charged by the institution; (ii) the total number and percentage of student applicants who receive an application fee waiver from the institution; (iii) the total number and percentage of student applicants who were charged the full student application fee by the institution; (iv) the total and per-student applicant revenue generated by the institution through student application fees; and (v) the total and per-student applicant cost to the institution to process student applications, including fully reviewing and acting upon such applications, disaggregated by each cost category deemed relevant by the Council and the institution. The bill requires each baccalaureate public institution of higher education to conduct such internal audits as it deems necessary to fully comply with and respond to such survey. The bill requires the Council to report its findings and any associated recommendations to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations, the House Committee on Education, the Senate Committee on Education and Health, and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations no later than November 1, 2024.

01/10/24 House: Presented and ordered printed 24105151D
01/10/24 House: Referred to Committee on Rules
01/25/24 House: Assigned Rules sub: Studies Subcommittee
01/29/24 House: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025
02/01/24 House: Continued to 2025 in Rules

HB 1342 Higher educational institutions, certain baccalaureate public; on-campus student health centers.

Chief patron: Shin

Summary as passed House:

Baccalaureate public institutions of higher education; provision of physical evidence recovery kits. Requires each baccalaureate public institution of higher education to either (i) staff its on-campus student health center with at least one on-campus certified sexual assault forensic examiner for the purpose of administering a physical evidence recovery kit to any student who is in need of such a kit or (ii) enter into a memorandum of understanding with a local organization or entity that is capable of providing the services of a certified sexual assault forensic examiner for the purpose of administering a physical evidence recovery kit to any student who is in need of such a kit.

02/14/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed
02/14/24 Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health
02/19/24 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1342H1)
02/23/24 Senate: Assigned Education and Health Sub: Higher Education
02/29/24 Senate: Reported from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)

HB 1365 Higher educational institutions, public; release of student transcripts.

Chief patron: Carr

Summary as passed House:

Public institutions of higher education; release of student transcripts. Requires each public institution of higher education to release an academic transcript directly to the employer or prospective employer of a student currently or formerly enrolled at such institution upon the request of the student. The bill also prohibits any public institution of higher education from conditioning the release of an academic transcript to a student currently or formerly enrolled at such institution on the payment of an outstanding debt if (i) such outstanding debt is less than $500; (ii) such outstanding debt is less than $1000 and such currently or formerly enrolled student received a Federal Pell Grant at any time during his enrollment; or (iii) such currently or formerly enrolled student has enrolled in a repayment plan and has made at least three consecutive monthly payments on such outstanding debt.

02/14/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed
02/14/24 Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health
02/23/24 Senate: Assigned Education and Health Sub: Higher Education
02/26/24 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1365E)
02/29/24 Senate: Reported from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)

HB 1422 Higher educational institutions, public; legacy admissions prohibited.

Chief patron: Cordoza

Summary as introduced:
Public institutions of higher education; legacy admissions prohibited. Prohibits any public institution of higher education from utilizing legacy admissions for any student applicant. The bill defines "legacy admissions" as any policy or practice whereby any individual who applies for admission to an institution of higher education and who is the child, grandchild, or sibling of an alumnus of such institution is afforded preferential treatment in the admissions decision.

01/18/24 House: Presented and ordered printed 24100332D
01/18/24 House: Referred to Committee on Education
01/26/24 House: Impact statement from DPB (HB1422)
02/13/24 House: Left in Education

HJ 25 Historically black colleges and universities; joint subcommittee to study challenges faced, etc.

Chief patron: Askew

Summary as introduced:
Study; joint committee of the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education and Health; challenges faced by and effective strategies for ensuring the sustainable, long-term success of the five historically black colleges and universities in the Commonwealth; report. Establishes a joint committee consisting of five members of the House Committee on Education and three members of the Senate Committee on Education and Health to study the challenges faced by and effective strategies for ensuring the sustainable, long-term success of the five historically black colleges and universities in the Commonwealth - Hampton University, Norfolk State University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Virginia University of Lynchburg - by discussing, adopting, and recommending to the Governor and the General Assembly for formal recognition and endorsement a comprehensive statewide HBCU Support Plan.

01/09/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104883D
01/09/24 House: Referred to Committee on Rules
01/25/24 House: Assigned Rules sub: Studies Subcommittee
01/29/24 House: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025
02/01/24 House: Continued to 2025 in Rules

HJ 39 Comprehensive community colleges, certain; JLARC to study waiver of tuition and mandatory fees.

Chief patron: Lopez

Summary as introduced:
Study; JLARC; waiver of tuition and mandatory fees at certain comprehensive community colleges; report. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the feasibility of waiving tuition and mandatory fees for Virginia students who attend Mountain Empire Community College, Southwest Virginia Community College, and Virginia Highlands Community College and report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly no later than November 30, 2024.

01/09/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101558D
01/09/24 House: Referred to Committee on Rules
01/25/24 House: Assigned Rules sub: Studies Subcommittee
01/29/24 House: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025
02/01/24 House: Continued to 2025 in Rules

HJ 61 Higher ed. institutions, baccalaureate public; SCHEV to study $10,000 tuition per year degree.

Chief patron: Runion

Summary as introduced:
Study; State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; $10,000 per year baccalaureate degree; report. Requests that the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (i) study the feasibility of implementing the option for students to pay $10,000 annually for tuition and mandatory fees to earn a degree at a baccalaureate public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth by surveying each baccalaureate public institution of higher education to determine the likely impact of such an option on enrollment, revenue, costs, services, staffing, and such other factors as the institution deems relevant and (ii) report its findings to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than November 30, 2024.

01/10/24 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24103567D
01/10/24 House: Referred to Committee on Rules
02/01/24 House: Continued to 2025 in Rules

SB 29 Budget Bill.

Chief patron: Lucas

02/22/24 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N)
02/22/24 Senate: Passed Senate (38-Y 2-N)
02/26/24 House: Placed on Calendar
02/26/24 House: Read first time
02/26/24 House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations

SB 30 Budget Bill.

Chief patron: Lucas

SB 46 Higher educational institutions, public; admissions applications, legacy admissions, etc.

Chief patron: VanValkenburg

Summary as passed Senate:

02/21/24 House: Signed by Speaker
02/24/24 Senate: Signed by President
02/27/24 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB46ER)
03/01/24 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 1, 2024
03/01/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 8, 2024

SB 71 Higher educational institutions, public; admissions applications, legacy admissions, etc.

Chief patron: McPike

Summary as introduced:
Public institutions of higher education; admissions applications; legacy admissions and admissions based on donor status prohibited. Prohibits any public institution of higher education from providing any manner of preferential treatment in the admissions decision to any student applicant on the basis of such student's legacy status, defined in the bill, or such student's familial relationship to any donor to such institution. This bill was incorporated into SB 46.

12/28/23 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104326D
12/28/23 Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health
01/12/24 Senate: Assigned Education and Health Sub: Higher Education
01/18/24 Senate: Incorporated by Education and Health (SB46-VanValkenburg) (15-Y 0-N)

SB 159 Higher Education for Virginia, State Council of; membership.

Chief patron: Boysko

Summary as introduced:

02/21/24 House: Signed by Speaker
02/24/24 Senate: Signed by President
02/26/24 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB159ER)
03/01/24 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 1, 2024
03/01/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 8, 2024

SB 219 Va. Nat'l Guard State Tuition Assistance Program; provisions relating to eligibility for grants.

Chief patron: Sturtevant

Summary as introduced:
Institutions of higher education; tuition grants; Virginia National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program. Makes several changes to the Virginia National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program, including (i) making the provisions relating to the requirements and conditions for eligibility for and award of grants under the Program subject to regulations as prescribed by the Adjutant General, (ii) eliminating the requirement to satisfy financial obligations with the institution of higher education at the beginning of each semester, (iii) simplifying the requirements relating to academic performance and good standing, and (iv) providing that any grant awarded shall be in an amount equivalent to the difference between the full cost of tuition and fees at the institution of higher education less any other educational benefits for which an individual is eligible as a member of the National Guard.

01/25/24 Senate: Reported from Education and Health with amendment (15-Y 0-N)
01/25/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations
01/26/24 Senate: Senate committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered
01/31/24 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB219)
01/31/24 Senate: Continued to 2025 in Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)

SB 287 Comprehensive community colleges; authority to offer and confer certain baccalaureate degrees.

Chief patron: Sturtevant

Summary as introduced:
Comprehensive community colleges; authority to offer and confer certain baccalaureate degrees. Authorizes the State Board for Community Colleges, subject to approval and certification by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia of a proposal submitted for such purpose, to establish an upper division of any comprehensive community college consisting of the third and fourth years of baccalaureate degree programs that lead to occupations in a high-demand field and confer baccalaureate degrees in such degree programs. The bill requires any proposal submitted to the Council for such purpose to include (i) the information required for application for Council certification pursuant to relevant law; (ii) any information necessary to establish that the applicable comprehensive community college meets the requirements for Council certification and accreditation by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; (iii) the specific baccalaureate degree programs for which the State Board is seeking approval to offer at the applicable comprehensive community college and to establish that such baccalaureate degree programs lead to occupations in a field that meets the criteria of a high-demand field, as set forth in the bill; and (iv) any other information that the Council deems necessary.

01/09/24 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101846D
01/09/24 Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health
01/19/24 Senate: Assigned Education and Health Sub: Higher Education
01/25/24 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)

SB 318 Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program; established, report.

Chief patron: Roem

Summary as introduced:
Public institutions of higher education; Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program established; report. Establishes the Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program (the Program) to address student food insecurity at public institutions of higher education. The bill provides that the Program shall be managed by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and available for participation by public institutions of higher education; however, participation in the Program shall be optional for such institutions. Under the bill, if a public institution of higher education satisfies certain criteria set out in the bill, including creating initiatives on campus to address student food insecurity, it shall be designated as a "Hunger-Free Campus" and the Council shall award a grant to such institution. A public institution of higher education that receives a grant under the bill shall utilize the funds to support on-campus efforts and initiatives to eliminate student food insecurity at such institution. The bill requires the Council to submit a report to the Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the House Committee on Education no later than two years after the establishment of the Program.

01/12/24 Senate: Assigned Education and Health Sub: Higher Education
01/18/24 Senate: Reported from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)
01/18/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations
01/22/24 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB318)
01/31/24 Senate: Continued to 2025 in Finance and Appropriations (12-Y 3-N)

SB 385 Artificial intelligence technology; use in education.

Chief patron: Pekarsky

Summary as introduced:
Study; Board of Education; work group on the use of artificial intelligence technology in education; report. Requires the Board of Education, in collaboration with the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, to convene a work group to study and make recommendations on guidelines for the use and integration of AI technology in education in public elementary and secondary schools and public institutions of higher education. The bill requires the work group to submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the Department of Education, the Governor, the Senate Committee on Education and Health, and the House Committee on Education by November 1, 2024.

01/09/24 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24105013D
01/09/24 Senate: Referred to Committee on Rules
02/06/24 Senate: Rereferred from Rules (10-Y 0-N)
02/06/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations
02/07/24 Senate: Stricken at request of Patron in Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)

SB 501 Virginia College Opportunity Endowment and Fund; created.

Chief patron: Surovell

Summary as introduced:

Virginia College Savings Plan; Virginia College Opportunity Endowment and Fund. Directs the board of the Virginia College Savings Plan (the Plan) to deposit $250 million per year of surplus moneys from the Plan's fund into the Virginia College Opportunity Fund (the Fund), established by the bill. The bill provides that such deposit shall not be made or shall be reduced in any year in which the College Opportunity Investment Advisory Committee (the Committee) determines that certain conditions relating to the Plan's funded status are not met. The Committee is established by the bill as an advisory committee for the Plan, for the purpose of determining the amount of deposits to be made to the Fund.

The bill provides that financial management of the Fund is the responsibility of the board of the Plan but authorizes the board of the Virginia College Opportunity Endowment (the Endowment), also established by the bill, to manage a scholarship program funded by the Fund. The bill establishes an individual and corporate income tax subtraction for donations to the Fund.

Under the bill, the Endowment provides scholarships to students who attend or plan to attend one of 12 eligible universities named in the bill. The bill provides that only such students who meet the eligibility requirements for a Federal Pell Grant and commit to being employed in Virginia, or being enrolled in postgraduate education in Virginia, for at least eight years after graduation from an eligible university are eligible for such scholarships.

01/30/24 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB501)
02/01/24 Senate: Reported from Education and Health with substitute (9-Y 6-N)
02/01/24 Senate: Committee substitute printed 24106430D-S1
02/01/24 Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations
02/12/24 Senate: Continued to 2025 in Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)

SB 563 Regional career and technical education program; establishing in Planning District 2.

Chief patron: Hackworth

Summary as passed Senate:

Department of Education; Virginia Community College System; regional career and technical education program. Directs the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Virginia Community College System, the Virginia Board of Workforce Development, the Board of Education, the school board and division superintendent of Tazewell County Public Schools, and representatives of the governing boards of comprehensive community colleges located in Tazewell County and contiguous counties to study the feasibility of and make recommendations on developing a plan for establishing a regional career and technical education program for all students in grade levels six through 12 who reside in Planning District 2.

02/15/24 House: Read first time
02/15/24 House: Referred to Committee on Rules
02/22/24 House: Assigned Rules sub: Studies Subcommittee
02/23/24 House: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025
02/23/24 House: Continued to 2025 in Rules

SB 599 Commonwealth of Virginia Higher Education Institutions Bond Act of 2024; created.

Chief patron: Lucas

Summary as passed Senate:

EMERGENCY

02/27/24 Senate: Enrolled
02/27/24 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB599ER)
02/27/24 House: Signed by Speaker
02/28/24 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB599ER)
03/01/24 Senate: Signed by President

SB 613 Higher educational institutions; campus safety, governing board of certain educational institutions.

Chief patron: Pillion

02/21/24 House: Signed by Speaker
02/22/24 Senate: Impact statement from DPB (SB613ER)
02/24/24 Senate: Signed by President
03/01/24 Senate: Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 1, 2024
03/01/24 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 8, 2024

SB 627 Qualified high school students; opportunities to enroll in postsecondary coursework, etc.

Chief patron: Lucas

Summary as introduced:
Department of Education and Virginia Community College System; College and Career Ready Virginia Program and Fund established. Establishes the College and Career Ready Virginia Fund and requires the Department of Education and the Virginia Community College System to establish the College and Career Ready Virginia Program whereby each school board is required to offer each qualified high school student in the local school division access at the high school to the dual enrollment courses that are sufficient to complete the Passport Program and the former Uniform Certificate of General Studies Program, renamed in the bill as the Passport Plus Program, at a public institution of higher education at no cost to such students. The bill establishes several enumerated duties for the Department and the System in the administration of the College and Career Ready Virginia Program, including the establishment of a work group to make recommendations no later than November 1, 2024, on the incorporation of a career and technical education program of coursework into the College and Career Ready Virginia Program.

02/29/24 Senate: Senate acceded to request (39-Y 0-N)
02/29/24 Senate: Conferees appointed by Senate
02/29/24 Senate: Senators: Lucas, Aird, Suetterlein
03/01/24 House: Conferees appointed by House
03/01/24 House: Delegates: Rasoul, Reaser, Coyner

SB 717 Higher educational institutions, public; duties of governing boards, acceptance & use of donations.

Chief patron: McDougle

Summary as introduced:
Public institutions of higher education; duties of governing boards; acceptance and use of donations. Provides that the governing board of each public institution of higher education may receive, take, hold, and enjoy any donation or gift made to such institution or governing board and may use and administer any such donation or gift for the uses and purposes designated by the donor or, if no such specific designation is made, for the general purposes of the institution. The bill provides that in the event that a donor specifically designates any particular use or purpose for a donation or gift, each governing board is required to appropriate such donation or gift and any resulting interest, income, and profits only to such specifically designated use or purpose, provided, however, that if such specifically designated use or purpose fails by any means such that the specifically designated use or purpose is permanently frustrated, the whole donation or gift, including unexpended principal and interest, will revert to and be vested in the donor or his legal representatives.

01/19/24 Senate: Presented and ordered printed 24103429D
01/19/24 Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health
01/26/24 Senate: Assigned Education and Health Sub: Higher Education
02/01/24 Senate: Continued to 2025 in Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)

Counts: HB: 31 HJ: 3 SB: 15