VirginiaHB4612026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Special education; certain educational settings, student age range restriction.

Sponsored By: Laura Jane Cohen (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Special education; student age range restrictions in educational settings. Prohibits any student with a disability in grades kindergarten through six from being regularly assigned to any educational setting, including any specialized educational setting, in which the maximum age range exceeds four years unless the student's individualized education program (IEP) team determines that an exception is appropriate and justifies such exception in the student's IEP. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Age-range limits for K–6 students with disabilities

Beginning July 1, 2027, schools must follow a four-year age span rule for K–6 students with disabilities. A child cannot be regularly assigned to any setting where the oldest and youngest students are more than four years apart. This includes classrooms and nongeneral education settings. The IEP team can allow an exception only if it is justified and written in the child’s IEP.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Laura Jane Cohen

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 234 • No: 87

House vote 3/11/2026

Senate amendment agreed to by House

Yes: 71 • No: 28

Senate vote 3/10/2026

Passed Senate with amendment

Yes: 21 • No: 19

Senate vote 3/10/2026

Education and Health Amendment agreed to

Yes: 0 • 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 with amendment

Yes: 9 • No: 6

House vote 2/17/2026

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 69 • No: 28

House vote 2/11/2026

Reported from Education with substitute

Yes: 16 • No: 5

House vote 2/10/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s)

Yes: 9 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0617)

    4/13/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 617 (Effective 7/1/2027)

    4/13/2026Governor
  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB461)

    3/31/2026House
  4. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/31/2026Governor
  5. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

    3/31/2026House
  6. Signed by Speaker

    3/31/2026House
  7. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB461ER)

    3/30/2026House
  8. Enrolled

    3/30/2026House
  9. Signed by President

    3/30/2026Senate
  10. Senate amendment agreed to by House (71-Y 28-N 0-A)

    3/11/2026House
  11. Passed Senate with amendment (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

    3/10/2026Senate
  12. Education and Health Amendment agreed to

    3/10/2026Senate
  13. Engrossed by Senate as amended

    3/10/2026Senate
  14. Read third time

    3/10/2026Senate
  15. Passed by for the day

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

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

    3/6/2026Senate
  18. Rules suspended

    3/6/2026Senate
  19. Reported from Education and Health with amendment (9-Y 6-N)

    3/5/2026Senate
  20. Senate subcommittee offered

    2/26/2026Senate
  21. Assigned Education sub: Public Education

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

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

    2/18/2026Senate
  24. Read third time and passed House (69-Y 28-N 0-A)

    2/17/2026House
  25. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    2/16/2026House

Bill Text

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