VirginiaSB1092026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

School boards; safe storage of prescription drugs and firearms in the household.

Sponsored By: Stella G. Pekarsky (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

School board policies; parental notification; safe storage of prescription drugs and firearms in the household. Requires each school board to develop and implement a policy to require the annual notification of the parent of each student enrolled in the school division, to be sent by email and, if applicable, SMS text message, of (i) the importance of securely storing any prescription drug, as defined in relevant law, present in the household and (ii) the parent's legal responsibility to safely store any firearm present in the household. The bill also requires each parental notification to include information on (a) relevant state laws and regulations relating to safe firearm storage and child access to firearms and (b) firearm-related accidents, injuries, and deaths, including current statistics published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or an equivalent nationally recognized entity or organization on youth firearm fatality rates. Finally, the bill requires each school board to make such parental notification available in multiple languages on its website. This bill is identical to HB 201.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Easier e-signatures and one consent form

School boards may accept electronic records and e-signatures from parents, as allowed by state e-signature law. A board can create one standard parent consent form to release student data. If it does, Community Policy and Management Teams and the state Health, Social Services, Juvenile Justice, and Behavioral Health agencies must use that form.

Parents of twins pick classroom placement

If you have twins or other multiples in the same grade at the same elementary school, you can choose to place them together or apart. You must make the request within three days after the school year starts, or within three days of their first day that year. The school must honor your request unless the superintendent or designee later decides, after the principal asks, that a different placement is needed. After the first grading period, the principal may seek a change if the placement is disruptive or harms learning.

Safety notices on drugs, guns, pickups

Within 30 days after the first day of school each year, the school board emails every parent, and also texts if it uses SMS, about safely storing prescription drugs and firearms at home. The notice explains state law on safe firearm storage and child access, gives safety tips and help links, and shares current youth firearm death data from the CDC or a similar source. The same information is posted in multiple languages on the school board website. The board also tells parents where to find the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry website. Schools set clear rules for releasing children to people who are not their parent.

Schools cannot force student political handouts

Schools cannot require students to carry or hand out materials that support or oppose any candidate, referendum, or government matter. Class discussions and purely informational materials are still allowed.

Stronger parent control over school surveys

Schools must get your written, informed consent before giving surveys during the school day or at school events if answers may be sold for commercial use. For surveys about sex, mental health, medical issues, certain health risks, drug use, or other sensitive topics, the school must give you written notice at least 30 days before. The notice must explain the questions, purpose, who can see answers, privacy rules, and let you review the survey and opt your child out. Staff must not share personally identifying answers unless required by law. Students in kindergarten through grade six cannot be given surveys that ask about sexual information.

Equal school access for Scouts groups

If a school lets groups use space or hand out materials, it cannot deny equal access to the Boy Scouts of America or the Girl Scouts of the USA. Schools do not have to sponsor these groups, and normal school rules still apply.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Stella G. Pekarsky

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 235 • No: 108

Senate vote 3/4/2026

House substitute agreed to by Senate

Yes: 21 • No: 19

Senate vote 3/4/2026

Reconsideration of House substitute agreed to by Senate

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/4/2026

House substitute agreed to by Senate

Yes: 20 • No: 20

House vote 3/2/2026

Passed House with substitute

Yes: 64 • No: 35

House vote 2/25/2026

Reported from Education with amendment(s)

Yes: 15 • No: 7

House vote 2/24/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s)

Yes: 7 • No: 3

Senate vote 1/27/2026

Read third time and passed Senate

Yes: 21 • No: 18

Senate vote 1/26/2026

Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/23/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/23/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 1/22/2026

Reported from Education and Health

Yes: 8 • No: 6

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0089)

    4/6/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 89 (effective 7/1/2026)

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

    3/14/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

    3/14/2026Senate
  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB109)

    3/10/2026Senate
  6. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB109ER)

    3/10/2026Senate
  7. Enrolled

    3/10/2026House
  8. Signed by President

    3/10/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/10/2026House
  10. House substitute agreed to by Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

    3/4/2026Senate
  11. Reconsideration of House substitute agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/4/2026Senate
  12. House substitute agreed to by Senate (20-Y 20-N 0-A)

    3/4/2026Senate
  13. Delegate Cohen Floor substitute agreed to

    3/2/2026House
  14. Passed House with substitute (64-Y 35-N 0-A)

    3/2/2026House
  15. committee amendments rejected

    3/2/2026House
  16. Read third time

    3/2/2026House
  17. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB109)

    3/2/2026Senate
  18. Floor Offered

    3/2/2026House
  19. Floor substitute printed 26108675D-H1 (Cohen)

    3/2/2026House
  20. Read second time

    2/27/2026House
  21. Reported from Education with amendment(s) (15-Y 7-N)

    2/25/2026House
  22. Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (7-Y 3-N)

    2/24/2026House
  23. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB109)

    2/10/2026Senate
  24. Referred to Committee on Education

    2/3/2026House
  25. Read first time

    2/3/2026House

Bill Text

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