# Virginia HB265: Students, certain; grants at public institutions of higher education, qualifications.

Virginia HB265, Students, certain; grants at public institutions of higher education, qualifications., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Anne Ferrell Tata (Republican); status failed, last action 2026-02-18 (Left in Education) (as of 2026-11-06).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB265-2026
- As of: 2026-11-06
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB265
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Students, certain; grants at public institutions of higher education, qualifications.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-09
- Last action: 2026-02-18, Left in Education
- Sponsor: Anne Ferrell Tata (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Education
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (8 yes, 2 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Grants for certain students at public institutions of higher education; qualifications. Removes the requirement for each public institution of higher education to provide a grant for the payment of tuition, certain mandatory education and general fees, and, at baccalaureate institutions, room and board, for any Virginia student who was considered a special needs adoption at any time after he turned 14. The bill also clarifies that only a Virginia student who has received a high school diploma or has passed a high school equivalency examination approved by the Board of Education and who was in foster care in the Commonwealth after he turned 14 or who was in foster care in the Commonwealth when he turned 18 and subsequently received a high school diploma or passed a high school equivalency examination approved by the Board of Education is eligible for such a grant. Current law that governs such grant eligibility is silent on the location of such foster care placement.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Anne Ferrell Tata (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-02 | House | Subcommittee recommends laying on the table | pass | 8 | 2 |   |

## Actions (6)

- 2026-02-18: Left in Education (House)
- 2026-02-02: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (8-Y 2-N) (House)
- 2026-01-30: Assigned HED sub: Higher Education (House)
- 2026-01-29: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB265) (House)
- 2026-01-09: Referred to Committee on Education (House)
- 2026-01-09: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103895D (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2026-01-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083334.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083333.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB20: Minimum wage; farm laborers or farm employees, temporary foreign workers. (signed)
- 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)

## Sources
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083334.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083333.PDF)

## Related
- [HB20: Minimum wage; farm laborers or farm employees, temporary foreign workers.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB20-2026)
- [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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB265-2026 (as of 2026-11-06).