# Virginia HB1278: School bd. policies; communication & language accessibility for limited English proficient parents.

Virginia HB1278, School bd. policies; communication & language accessibility for limited English proficient parents., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Atoosa R. Reaser (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0764)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1278-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB1278
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: School bd. policies; communication & language accessibility for limited English proficient parents.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-14
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0764)
- Sponsor: Atoosa R. Reaser (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 14 (325 yes, 190 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

School boards; language access plan for limited English proficient parents. Requires each school board to develop, implement, and post in a publicly accessible location on its website a language access plan consisting of policies and procedures designed to ensure meaningful communication with and informational accessibility for limited English proficient (LEP) parents, as that term is defined in the bill. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027. This bill is identical to SB 685.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- How schools provide language services: benefit, low. School boards may use research-based language technology, like remote interpreters or digital tools. Tools must be accurate and, when needed, backed by qualified humans. Boards may contract or join regional or statewide services for interpretation and translation. Services must meet state Standards…
- Schools must help parents in their language: benefit, low. Each school board develops, carries out, and posts a language access plan. Schools identify at enrollment if a parent prefers another language and record it. Parents who prefer another language get essential notices in a language they understand. The board provides free interpretation and translati…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Atoosa R. Reaser (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-13 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 23 | 15 |   |
| 2026-03-13 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 64 | 30 |   |
| 2026-02-27 | Senate | Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | House | Senate substitute rejected by House | fail | 1 | 95 |   |
| 2026-02-23 | Senate | Education and Health Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-23 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote | pass | 38 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-20 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-20 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-19 | Senate | Reported from Education and Health with substitute | pass | 15 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 62 | 33 |   |
| 2026-02-09 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute | pass | 5 | 2 |   |
| 2026-02-09 | House | Reported from Appropriations with substitute | pass | 16 | 6 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | House | Reported from Education with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations | pass | 15 | 6 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations | pass | 7 | 3 |   |

## Actions (52)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0764) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 764 (Effective 7/1/2027) (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1278ER) (House)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: Conference report agreed to by Senate (23-Y 15-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: Conference report agreed to by House (64-Y 30-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-13: Conference Report released
- 2026-03-13: Conference Report released
- 2026-03-04: House Conferees: Reaser, Cohen, Tata (House)
- 2026-03-04: Conferees appointed by House (House)
- 2026-03-04: Senate Conferees: Pekarsky, VanValkenburg, Head (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: House acceded to request (House)
- 2026-02-27: Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Senate requested conference committee (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Senate substitute rejected by House (1-Y 95-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-23: Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (38-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Education and Health Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1278) (House)
- 2026-02-23: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-19: Committee substitute printed 26108246D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-19: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-19: Reported from Education and Health with substitute (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1278) (House)
- 2026-02-16: Referred to Committee on Education and Health (Senate)
- 2026-02-16: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Read third time and passed House (62-Y 33-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-12: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-12: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-12: committee amendments rejected (House)
- 2026-02-12: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-11: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-09: Committee substitute printed 26107411D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-09: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-02-09: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 2-N) (House)
- 2026-02-09: Reported from Appropriations with substitute (16-Y 6-N) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Reported from Education with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 6-N) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Assigned HAPP sub: Elementary & Secondary Education (House)
- 2026-02-03: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-02-03: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1278) (House)
- 2026-02-03: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 3-N) (House)
- 2026-02-02: Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee (House)
- 2026-01-14: Referred to Committee on Education (House)
- 2026-01-14: Presented and ordered printed 26104939D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222591.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222590.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213913.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213912.PDF)
- Conference Report, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210337.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-02-19: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1170017.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1170678.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1170677.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1170016.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135380.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135904.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135908.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135379.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135903.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135907.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-02-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1116498.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-02-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1115214.HTML)
- Introduced, 2026-01-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1088003.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1088002.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222591.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222590.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213913.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1213912.PDF)
- [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210337.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1170017.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1170678.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1170677.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1170016.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135380.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135904.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135908.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135379.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135903.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1135907.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1116498.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1115214.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1088003.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1088002.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1278-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).