# Virginia HB359: Private elementary or secondary school; use of public funds for tuition, standards.

Virginia HB359, Private elementary or secondary school; use of public funds for tuition, standards., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Dan I. Helmer (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2026-02-11 (Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote)) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB359-2026
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB359
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Private elementary or secondary school; use of public funds for tuition, standards.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-12
- Last action: 2026-02-11, Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote)
- Sponsor: Dan I. Helmer (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Elementary & Secondary Education
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 3 (13 yes, 7 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Use of public funds for private elementary or secondary school tuition; standards. Establishes several requirements and conditions relating to the use of certain public funds enumerated in the bill to fund student tuition at private elementary and secondary schools in the Commonwealth, including (i) requiring all students enrolled at schools who receive such funds to take Standards of Learning assessments; (ii) requiring all such schools to receive accountability ratings from the Board of Education; and (iii) prohibiting such schools from discriminating in admissions, enrollment, discipline, retention, or access to educational programs and services on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, special education status, language proficiency, or socioeconomic status.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Dan I. Helmer (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-11 | House | Continued to 2027 in Appropriations (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-11 | House | Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-09 | House | Reported from Education with substitute and referred to Appropriations | pass | 13 | 7 |   |

## Actions (9)

- 2026-02-11: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2026-02-11: Continued to 2027 in Appropriations (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2026-02-09: Committee substitute printed 26107420D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-09: Reported from Education with substitute and referred to Appropriations (13-Y 7-N) (House)
- 2026-02-09: Assigned HAPP sub: Elementary & Secondary Education (House)
- 2026-02-06: House committee offered (House)
- 2026-02-03: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB359) (House)
- 2026-01-12: Referred to Committee on Education (House)
- 2026-01-12: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105152D (House)

## Bill text

- Substitute, 2026-02-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1134329.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1134328.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132787.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132786.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084012.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084011.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
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1134329.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1134328.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132787.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1132786.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084012.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084011.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB359-2026 (as of 2026-10-11).