VirginiaHB4142026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Two-Year college Transfer Grant, etc.; eligibility.

Sponsored By: Elizabeth R. Guzman (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Selective Service; Two-Year College Transfer Grant; Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant Program. Removes the requirement that individuals register for the Selective Service in order to be eligible for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant, the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant Program, or any other state direct tuition assistance.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

9 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 5 mixed.

New admissions rules and aid checks

Public colleges must make policies that deny state direct student aid to people who knowingly and willfully failed to register for Selective Service. When admitting graduates who earned diplomas under state rules, schools cannot consider a public high school’s accreditation status. Colleges must also follow state rules for admitting certain community college graduates. Governing boards must help the State Council of Higher Education enforce financial‑aid eligibility rules.

Parent access and safety alerts for students

Schools must release a dependent student’s educational records to a parent on request. If a dependent student receives mental health care at the campus center and those records are part of the education record under FERPA, the school must notify a parent when there is a substantial likelihood of serious harm to self or others, or serious harm from not being able to protect oneself. A licensed treating provider can write that notice would likely cause substantial harm, and then the school may withhold notice. Schools and employees are immune from lawsuits for these disclosures unless they act with gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Transfer grants with GPA, need, and limits

Virginia students can get a transfer grant after finishing a public two‑year associate degree. You must have a 3.0 GPA, enroll at an eligible school by the next fall or spring term, apply for financial aid, and have an Expected Family Contribution of $12,000 or less. The grant can be used only for undergraduate coursework, not for religious or theological programs. You can receive it for up to three academic years. You cannot get the grant if you failed to register for Selective Service, unless the requirement no longer applies or you prove your failure was not knowing and willful. To keep the grant, you must keep a 3.0 GPA, keep EFC at $12,000 or less, and make satisfactory progress toward your degree.

Campus crime info and athlete discipline reports

Colleges must give anyone, on request, the part of the latest “Crime in Virginia” report that covers higher education. Boards must adopt discipline rules for varsity athletes and require an annual report to the board on enforcement actions.

More transparency from public college boards

Each board must adopt bylaws, explain how it follows open‑meeting laws, and invite the Attorney General’s representative to meetings. Boards must post on their website board and committee lists, who appointed each member and when, meeting schedules and access, past agendas and materials, and a public email. Boards must send annual financial statements and capital project status for audit and post the statements online. By December 1 each year, boards must report investment balances as of June 30, cash earnings, and how those earnings are used, and post the report online. Boards must also send an annual executive summary by the first day of the General Assembly’s regular session, which is posted on the General Assembly website.

Stronger rules for campus human research

If a college runs human research, it must adopt rules under the Administrative Process Act to follow state human‑research protections. The human research committee must send at least yearly reports on approved projects and report major deviations to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the college’s CEO.

More faculty voice and CEO oversight

Boards must ask faculty representatives for input at least twice each academic year and before deciding on a CEO search. Boards must meet yearly in a closed session to evaluate the CEO. Any change to the CEO’s contract must be approved by a majority of board members.

New rules on student and staff intellectual property

College boards must adopt and share policies on who owns, protects, assigns, and uses intellectual property, and all employees and student employees must follow them. The law defines intellectual property to include patentable inventions, patents and patent rights, and copyrightable works. Boards must support the IP rights of matriculated students who are not employed by the school. Boards must send these policies to the Governor and the Joint Commission on Technology and Science.

One higher-ed code section repealed

The law repeals Code of Virginia § 23.1‑632. Any duties, programs, or rights in that section no longer apply.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Elizabeth R. Guzman

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 175 • No: 44

Senate vote 3/2/2026

Passed Senate

Yes: 21 • No: 19

Senate vote 2/27/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 37 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/27/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/26/2026

Reported from Education and Health

Yes: 9 • No: 6

House vote 1/27/2026

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 79 • No: 19

House vote 1/21/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting

Yes: 7 • No: 0 • Other: 1

House vote 1/21/2026

Reported from Appropriations

Yes: 22 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0135)

    4/6/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 135 (effective 7/1/2026)

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

    3/10/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

    3/10/2026House
  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB414)

    3/5/2026House
  6. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB414ER)

    3/5/2026House
  7. Enrolled

    3/5/2026House
  8. Signed by President

    3/5/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/5/2026House
  10. Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

    3/2/2026Senate
  11. Read third time

    3/2/2026Senate
  12. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    2/27/2026Senate
  13. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/27/2026Senate
  14. Rules suspended

    2/27/2026Senate
  15. Reported from Education and Health (9-Y 6-N)

    2/26/2026Senate
  16. Assigned Education sub: Higher Education

    2/23/2026Senate
  17. Referred to Committee on Education and Health

    1/28/2026Senate
  18. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    1/28/2026Senate
  19. Read third time and passed House (79-Y 19-N 0-A)

    1/27/2026House
  20. Read second time and engrossed

    1/26/2026House
  21. Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar

    1/26/2026House
  22. Read first time

    1/23/2026House
  23. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB414)

    1/22/2026House
  24. Reported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)

    1/21/2026House
  25. Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N)

    1/21/2026House

Bill Text

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