# Virginia HB2158: DOC; functional literacy program for inmates, etc. Virginia HB2158, DOC; functional literacy program for inmates, etc., is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Betsy B. Carr (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-05-02 (Vetoed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB2158-2025 - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia HB2158 - State: Virginia - Session: 2025 Regular Session - Title: DOC; functional literacy program for inmates, etc. - Status: failed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-01-07 - Last action: 2025-05-02, Vetoed by Governor - Sponsor: Betsy B. Carr (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 14 (496 yes, 179 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 0 ## Summary Department of Corrections; functional literacy program for inmates; data sharing and tracking; salary schedules for teachers; Virginia Prison Education Task Force established; report. Requires the Superintendent employed by the Director of Corrections to (i) include in the functional literacy program for inmates developed pursuant to applicable law evidence-based literacy instruction, as defined in accordance with applicable law; (ii) share data with (a) the state entity that oversees the management, direction, and governance of the Commonwealth's education and workforce data for the purpose of developing educational, health, social service, and employment outcome data and improving the efficacy of state services and (b) the Virginia Community College System necessary for comprehensive community colleges to apply for and maintain eligibility as Federal Pell Grant-eligible prison education programs; and (iii) track and publicly report at least annually the number of incarcerated individuals eligible for, enrolled in, and waitlisted for the functional literacy program. The bill also establishes the Virginia Prison Education Task Force for the purpose of implementing a consistent education program across all state correctional facilities operated by the Department. The bill requires the Task Force to complete its work by July 1, 2030. Finally, the bill requires the Department of Education to, by November 1, 2025, (a) review and update the salary schedules for teachers licensed by the Board of Education and employed by the Department of Corrections to provide instruction in the schools of the correctional centers to be competitive with those in effect for the school division in which the correctional facility is located and (b) make recommendations for the inclusion of such teacher salary increases in the appropriation act. ## Bill overview No economic impacts identified for this bill. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Betsy B. Carr (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-04-02 | House | Passed by for the day Block Vote | pass | 47 | 46 | | | 2025-02-21 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 39 | 0 | | | 2025-02-21 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 81 | 13 | | | 2025-02-20 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote | pass | 39 | 0 | | | 2025-02-20 | Senate | Reconsideration of Senate passage agreed to by Senate Block Vote | pass | 39 | 0 | | | 2025-02-20 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote | pass | 39 | 0 | | | 2025-02-20 | House | Senate substitute rejected by House | fail | 0 | 96 | | | 2025-02-20 | Senate | Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote | pass | 38 | 0 | | | 2025-02-19 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2025-02-17 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute | pass | 14 | 0 | | | 2025-02-13 | Senate | Reported from Education and Health with amendments and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 15 | 0 | | | 2025-02-04 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 81 | 18 | | | 2025-01-29 | House | Reported from Education with amendment(s) | pass | 16 | 6 | | | 2025-01-27 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) | pass | 8 | 0 | 1 | ## Actions (56) - 2025-05-02: Vetoed by Governor (Governor) - 2025-04-02: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 2, 2025 (Governor) - 2025-04-02: Communicated to Governor (House) - 2025-04-02: Passed by for the day Block Vote (47-Y 46-N) (House) - 2025-03-24: Governor's recommendation received by House (Governor) - 2025-03-11: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (Governor) - 2025-03-11: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2025 (House) - 2025-03-10: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2158) (House) - 2025-03-10: Signed by President (Senate) - 2025-03-07: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2158ER) (House) - 2025-03-07: Enrolled (House) - 2025-03-07: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2025-02-28: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2158) (House) - 2025-02-21: Conference report agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-21: Conference substitute printed 25107863D-H1 (House) - 2025-02-21: Amended by conference committee - 2025-02-21: Conference report agreed to by House (81-Y 13-N) (House) - 2025-02-20: Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (38-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (39-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Reconsideration of Senate passage agreed to by Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Senators: Hashmi, Bagby, Pillion (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Education and Health Amendments rejected (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Read third time (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Delegates: Carr, Rasoul, Coyner (House) - 2025-02-20: Conferees appointed by House (House) - 2025-02-20: House acceded to request (House) - 2025-02-20: Senate requested conference committee (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 96-N) (House) - 2025-02-20: Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (39-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-20: Reading of substitute waived (Senate) - 2025-02-19: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-19: Passed by for the day (Senate) - 2025-02-19: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2025-02-17: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (14-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-17: Committee substitute printed 25107611D-S1 (Senate) - 2025-02-13: Reported from Education and Health with amendments and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2025-02-10: Assigned Education sub: Higher Education (Senate) - 2025-02-10: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2158) (House) - 2025-02-05: Referred to Committee on Education and Health (Senate) - 2025-02-05: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate) - 2025-02-04: Read third time and passed House (81-Y 18-N) (House) - 2025-02-03: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2158) (House) - 2025-02-03: Printed as engrossed 25104313D-E (House) - 2025-02-03: Engrossed by House as amended (House) - 2025-02-03: Education Amendments agreed to (House) - 2025-02-03: Read second time (House) - 2025-01-31: Read first time (House) - 2025-01-29: Reported from Education with amendment(s) (16-Y 6-N) (House) - 2025-01-27: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (8-Y 0-N) (House) - 2025-01-23: Assigned Educ sub: K-12 Subcommittee (House) - 2025-01-07: Introduced bill reprinted 25104313D (House) - 2025-01-07: Referred to Committee on Education (House) - 2025-01-07: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-13-2025 25104313D (House) ## Bill text - Veto Explanation, 2025-05-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1080055.HTML) - Gov Recommendation, 2025-03-24: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1073886.HTML) - Enrolled, 2025-03-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1068853.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1068852.PDF) - Conference Report, 2025-02-21: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066660.HTML) - Substitute, 2025-02-21: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066663.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066662.PDF) - Substitute, 2025-02-18: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1059438.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1059437.PDF) - Amendment, 2025-02-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1052567.HTML) - Amendment, 2025-02-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1050247.HTML) - Engrossed, 2025-02-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1033685.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1033684.PDF) - Amendment, 2025-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1030002.HTML) - Introduced, 2025-01-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015342.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015341.PDF) ## Related bills - HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted) - SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed) - HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed) - HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed) - SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed) - HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor) ## Sources - [Veto Explanation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1080055.HTML) - [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1073886.HTML) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1068853.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1068852.PDF) - [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066660.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066663.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1066662.PDF) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1059438.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1059437.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1052567.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1050247.HTML) - [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1033685.HTML) - [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1033684.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1030002.HTML) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015342.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1015341.PDF) ## Related - [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025) - [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025) - [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025) - [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025) - [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025) - [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025) - [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-HB2158-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).