VirginiaHB13872026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Teaching licenses; automatic revocation upon certain convictions.

Sponsored By: Mike A. Cherry (Republican)

Became Law

Summary

Board of Education; automatic revocation of teaching licenses upon certain convictions. Requires the Board of Education to automatically revoke the teaching license of a license holder upon receiving a record of the license holder's conviction of a felony and order to register under the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry Act. The bill provides that any such revocation applies to any active teaching license and to any inactive teaching license if such license was active at the time that the offense occurred. The bill provides that no such license holder whose teaching license has been so revoked is entitled to a hearing but that the license may be reinstated by the Board if the license holder's conviction is overturned on appeal and the Board is satisfied that reinstatement is in the best interest of the public schools of the Commonwealth.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Stricter teacher license revocations and process

If you are convicted of a felony that requires sex offender registration, the Board automatically revokes your teaching license. There is no hearing for this, and the Superintendent sends notice by certified mail. The rule covers active licenses and ones that were active when the offense happened. The Board must also revoke a license when a school division files the required notice of your dismissal or resignation, or after a founded child‑abuse or neglect case once all appeals are finished. For conduct cases, the division must investigate right away, petition for revocation on reasonable cause, and the school board must hold a hearing within 90 days of mailing the petition. If a court overturns the conviction or reverses the abuse/neglect finding and you apply, the Board reviews reinstatement and must decide within 90 days for abuse/neglect cases.

New alternate routes to teacher licensure

The Board allows alternate paths to a teaching license. Qualified experience can count for some coursework in these routes. There are specific alternate routes for elementary education and special education that require passing content tests and an approved alternative certification program. School boards or sponsored groups can ask the Board to approve their own alternate routes. The Board can issue provisional licenses for up to three years, including for some former Armed Forces members with honorable discharge and related training or experience.

More training and tests to teach

To get or renew a license, you must meet added training and testing rules. These include subject tests; child abuse recognition; emergency first aid, CPR, and AED with hands-on practice; and dyslexia awareness. Certain endorsements also require science-based reading and literacy tests, cultural competency, and African American history for history/social sciences. School counselors need mental health disorder recognition training; CTE teachers need an industry credential (with provisional options); and Braille proficiency is required for the blind/visually impaired endorsement. Provisional licensees may defer some trainings into the first year but must finish them during the provisional period.

Faster licenses for out-of-state teachers

The Board grants licensure by reciprocity for comparable out-of-state teaching licenses. For most out-of-state applicants, official transcripts are not required. Military spouses get an eligibility decision within 15 business days after the state receives a complete application packet. If your out-of-state license has full credentials and has been in force and used for at least three years, you qualify for universal reciprocity with no extra service or testing. The Department prioritizes these universal reciprocity applications.

One-year local teacher eligibility license

A school division may recommend a one-year, nonrenewable local eligibility license for someone with a bachelor’s degree and suitable subject experience. It is valid only in that division and cannot be used in special education or by someone already eligible for a standard license. Each school board may fill no more than 5% of last year’s teaching positions with these licenses. The teacher must complete required training during the year, and is treated as probationary. The state reviews each local eligibility license within one month of issuance.

Online-only license for virtual teachers

The Board sets rules for a license that is valid only for teaching online courses. This online-only license cannot be used for in-person teaching. Teachers who already hold a 10-year renewable Board license may teach online courses they are endorsed for.

State Board is sole licensing authority

The State Board alone licenses teachers who work for school boards, including nursing-education teachers. Other state agencies cannot issue those teaching licenses.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Mike A. Cherry

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 220 • No: 1

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: 14 • No: 0

House vote 2/17/2026

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 97 • No: 0

House vote 2/11/2026

Reported from Education

Yes: 20 • No: 1

House vote 2/10/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Courts of Justice

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0311)

    4/6/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 311 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/6/2026Governor
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/25/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026

    3/25/2026House
  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1387)

    3/16/2026House
  6. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1387ER)

    3/14/2026House
  7. Enrolled

    3/14/2026House
  8. Signed by President

    3/14/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/14/2026House
  10. Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/9/2026Senate
  11. Read third time

    3/9/2026Senate
  12. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    3/6/2026Senate
  13. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/6/2026Senate
  14. Rules suspended

    3/6/2026Senate
  15. Reported from Education and Health (14-Y 0-N)

    3/5/2026Senate
  16. Assigned Education sub: Public Education

    2/26/2026Senate
  17. Referred to Committee on Education and Health

    2/18/2026Senate
  18. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/18/2026Senate
  19. Read third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/17/2026House
  20. Read second time and engrossed

    2/16/2026House
  21. Read first time

    2/13/2026House
  22. Reported from Education (20-Y 1-N)

    2/11/2026House
  23. Subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Courts of Justice (10-Y 0-N)

    2/10/2026House
  24. Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee

    2/5/2026House
  25. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1387)

    1/28/2026House

Bill Text

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