All Roll Calls
Yes: 222 • No: 0
Sponsored By: Israel D. O'Quinn (Republican)
Became Law
Standards of Quality; state accountability; Standards of Learning assessment expedited retake scores. Directs the Board of Education, in its calculation of the passage rate for a Standards of Learning assessment or the level of achievement of the Standards of Learning objectives for an individual student growth assessment for the purposes of state accountability ratings, to include, for any student who retakes an assessment on an expedited basis and receives a passing score, the passing score received on the expedited retake and to exclude the score such student received on the assessment taken during the regular assessment administration period.
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9 provisions identified: 8 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
The Board sets clear, objective rules for school accreditation, including student outcomes and growth. It adds standards for full‑time public virtual schools. Schools are reviewed every year; fully accredited schools can get three‑year terms with annual reviews. Schools that miss standards must follow Board‑approved corrective plans; divisions can face division‑level reviews and agreements with the Board. Local boards must keep schools accredited and report status in public. The Board uses required tests, including end‑of‑course exams and approved local alternatives, in accreditation.
Students who score below grade level can retake the test. For expedited retakes, the retake happens within two weeks of scoring, unless more time is needed for remediation. Retakes after June 30 need local board approval. A passing expedited retake counts for state accountability, but it does not replace the course grade. For grades 3–8 reading and math, the state awards recovery credit when a student gets help and then passes a retake. Schools must also give targeted math help in grades 6–8 when tests show computation gaps.
Adults who received a Brown v. Board Scholarship and enroll in an approved adult program do not have to meet SOL testing rules. This waiver applies to high school equivalency and adult diploma programs.
Students with disabilities can use alternative test methods when their IEP team decides it is appropriate. The Board sets the alternative methods.
The Department gives high‑school SOL tests to divisions by December 1, or as soon as new tests are ready. The Board makes tests public after they are given when security is protected. Local boards give student scores to teachers, parents, and school leaders as soon as possible and report yearly. The state posts subgroup results on the public School Performance Report Card within three months. Superintendents must check that required reports are accurate and on time.
Students can earn credits by passing industry certifications or state licensure exams, under Board rules. When the state does not give a SOL in a subject, local boards must teach the content and give approved local alternatives each year. A passing score on an approved local alternative can replace a state end‑of‑course test for graduation. High‑school testing is limited to exams needed for federal accountability and for graduation.
The Board can investigate and take action when test security is broken. It can withhold and later share records to protect tests and allow personnel action. When funded, the Board may hire vendors for web‑based and computer‑adaptive tests and a SOL‑aligned remediation item bank to track student progress.
The law uses through‑year growth tests in reading and math for grades 3–8. Students take at least start‑, mid‑, and end‑of‑year tests. Total time for these growth tests cannot exceed 150% of one end‑of‑year test. State tests are limited by grade: grades 3–4 reading and math; grade 5 adds science; grades 6–7 reading and math; grade 8 reading, writing, and math; science once in grades 6–8; Virginia Studies and Civics & Economics once at a grade set locally. Schools may give no more than one assessment per subject each quarter, and no more than four per year.
Local boards can request up to five‑year waivers from some state rules or use an Individual School Accreditation Plan. Waivers cannot remove rules required by law or for health and safety. The Board can also waive some staffing rules so divisions can assign more teachers to the highest‑need schools. Divisions must still meet total staffing levels and class‑size limits. Waivers can be renewed or revoked based on student results.
Israel D. O'Quinn
Republican • House
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
All Roll Calls
Yes: 222 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/9/2026
Passed Senate Block Vote
Yes: 40 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/6/2026
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)
Yes: 39 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/6/2026
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/5/2026
Reported from Education and Health
Yes: 15 • No: 0
House vote • 2/17/2026
Read third time and passed House Block Vote
Yes: 97 • No: 0
House vote • 2/11/2026
Reported from Education with amendment(s)
Yes: 21 • No: 0
House vote • 2/10/2026
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s)
Yes: 10 • No: 0
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0459)
Approved by Governor-Chapter 459 (effective 7/1/2026)
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1243)
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1243ER)
Enrolled
Signed by President
Signed by Speaker
Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Read third time
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
Rules suspended
Reported from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)
Assigned Education sub: Public Education
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1243)
Engrossed by House as amended
Read second time
committee amendments agreed to
Read first time
Reported from Education with amendment(s) (21-Y 0-N)
Chaptered
4/8/2026
Enrolled
3/14/2026
Engrossed
2/16/2026
Amendment
2/11/2026
Amendment
2/10/2026
Substitute
2/9/2026
Introduced
1/14/2026
SB767 — Motor vehicles; glass repair and replacement, emissions inspections, penalties, repeals.
Motor vehicle glass repair and replacement; emissions inspection; penalties. Establishes various notice requirements for motor vehicle glass repair shops, defined in the bill, and provides that a violation of such requirements is a prohibited practice under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. The bill permits a motor vehicle to qualify for an emissions inspection waiver if such vehicle has failed an inspection and the vehicle's onboard diagnostic system is in a not-ready condition to be tested when presented for reinspection. This bill is identical to HB 312.
SB803 — Virginia Fair Housing Law; regulations defining terms related to unlawful conduct.
Virginia Fair Housing Law; unlawful conduct. Directs the Fair Housing Board to promulgate regulations defining "quid pro quo harassment," "hostile environment harassment," and other terms related to unlawful conduct under the Virginia Fair Housing Law. The bill directs the Fair Housing Board to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill.
SB731 — Private companies providing public transportation services; employee protections.
Private companies providing public transportation services; employee protections; report. Requires the governing body of any county or city that contracts with a private company to provide transportation services to (i) require such company to provide any employee of such company providing such services compensation and benefits that are, at a minimum, equivalent to the compensation and benefits provided to a public employee, as defined in the bill, with a position requiring equivalent qualifications and years of service; (ii) provide transportation services through such company's own employees; and (iii) if such county or city subsequently elects to provide its own system of public transportation, adopt an ordinance or resolution providing for collective bargaining and ensure all employees of such private company are offered employment with such subsequent public transportation system without loss of compensation or benefits. The bill clarifies that the bill only applies to actions occurring on or after the effective date and excludes any action taken, contract signed, liability incurred, or right accrued prior to July 1, 2026, from the requirements. Finally, the bill directs the Director of the Department of Rail and Public Transportation to convene a work group to develop recommendations on how to implement the provisions of the bill and requires the work group to report its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committee on Labor and Commerce and Senate Committee on Local Government by November 1, 2026. This bill is identical to HB 547.
SB620 — Va. ABC Authority; permitting of retail tobacco product retailers, etc.
Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority; permitting of retail tobacco product retailers; purchase, possession, and sale of retail tobacco products; penalties; report. Transitions and provides a more comprehensive structure for the current licensing and enforcement responsibilities related to liquid nicotine and retail tobacco products from the Department of Taxation to a permitting system administered by the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority. The bill requires the Board of Directors of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage and Control Authority to conduct an unannounced buyer operation at least once every 24 months to verify that a permittee, defined in the bill, is not selling retail tobacco products to persons under 21 years of age. Portions of the bill have a delayed effective date of October 1, 2026. This bill is identical to HB 308.
SB666 — Residential land development and construction; fee transparency, local housing development.
Department of Housing and Community Development; housing development database. Requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to collect from each locality and make available to the public, localities, state agencies, and other state and regional public entities in a centralized, machine-readable, screen reader compatible database various data for each new and existing housing development in each locality in the Commonwealth, including data related to the number of housing development plans submitted and approved by the locality and the average approval timeline for housing development plans.
SB599 — Va. Opioid Use Red. & Jail-Based Substance Use Disorder Trtmt. and Transition Fund; grant procedure.
Virginia Opioid Use Reduction and Jail-Based Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Transition Fund; grant procedures. Requires the grant procedure to govern funds awarded to local and regional jails for the planning or operation of substance use disorder treatment services and transition services for persons with substance use disorder who are incarcerated in local and regional jails to include requirements that (i) any grant awarded shall be made for up to three years and (ii) an applicant for a grant submit a plan demonstrating how such applicant will become independently financially viable within the time period for which the grant is awarded. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care and is identical to HB 455.