# Virginia SB167: Higher ed. financial aid programs; amends provisions, Va. Commonwealth Award established, report.

Virginia SB167, Higher ed. financial aid programs; amends provisions, Va. Commonwealth Award established, report., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Schuyler T. VanValkenburg (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-06 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0273)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB167-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB167
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Higher ed. financial aid programs; amends provisions, Va. Commonwealth Award established, report.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-08
- Last action: 2026-04-06, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0273)
- Sponsor: Schuyler T. VanValkenburg (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 9 (267 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

Public institutions of higher education; financial aid review and consolidation; Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program and Fund; Virginia Commonwealth Award established; work group; report. Amends several provisions relating to higher education financial aid programs for the purpose of establishing the Virginia Commonwealth Award in the Code of Virginia and consolidating the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program and Fund with the Virginia Commonwealth Award. Currently, the Virginia Commonwealth Award is established and administered only in the Virginia Administrative Code. In consolidating and establishing such financial aid programs as the Virginia Commonwealth Award, the bill codifies several definitions and provisions relating to award eligibility and renewal for undergraduate students and graduate students. The bill also repeals a provision of law establishing the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Fund. The bill directs the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to promulgate emergency regulations for the administration of financial aid in accordance with the provisions of the bill by April 1, 2027. The bill also directs the Secretary of Education to (i) establish a work group to conduct a comprehensive review of higher education financial aid systems and processes in the Commonwealth and make recommendations on strategies for maximizing the efficacy and impact of state financial aid appropriations on accessibility and affordability of and student outcomes in higher education in the Commonwealth and (ii) submit to the chairs of the applicable committees of the General Assembly by July 1, 2027, a report on the work group's findings and recommendations. Finally, the bill provides for the gradual phase-out of the award of grants under the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program by (a) prohibiting any first-time students from being offered a grant under the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program beginning with first-time students enrolled in the fall semester of 2027 and (b) permitting any public institution of higher education to provide for the annual renewal of grant awards under such program for no more than three subsequent award years, or up to a total of four award years, to any student who receives a grant during the 2026–2027 school year and continues to meet the requirements for grant renewal set forth in applicable law. This bill is identical to HB 1221.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- State grants help eligible Virginia undergraduates: benefit, high. The Virginia Commonwealth Award provides grants for eligible undergraduates at Virginia public colleges. Students must attend at least half-time when enrollment is locked for term aid, meet Virginia domicile rules, and show financial need. They must meet applicable Selective Service rules; the stat…
- New state grants for graduate students: benefit, medium. Graduate students at Virginia public colleges can qualify for a Commonwealth Award in an eligible program. They must attend full-time when enrollment is locked for term aid and show financial need or meet school-set criteria. Schools set award amounts using funds appropriated for graduate awards. E…
- Old grants end for new students: cost, high. Starting with first-time students enrolled in fall 2027, schools cannot offer new Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program grants. The Virginia Commonwealth Award replaces that program for new students. Students who received an old-program grant in 2026–2027 can receive renewals if they continue meet…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Schuyler T. VanValkenburg (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-27 | Senate | House substitute agreed to by Senate | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | House | Passed House with substitute Block Vote | pass | 97 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-20 | House | Reported from Appropriations with substitute | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-09 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-06 | Senate | Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations | pass | 15 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-22 | Senate | Reported from Education and Health and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 14 | 0 |   |

## Actions (36)

- 2026-04-06: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0273) (Governor)
- 2026-04-06: Approved by Governor-Chapter 273 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB167) (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB167ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-02-27: House substitute agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Passed House with substitute Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-25: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-25: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-25: Read third time (House)
- 2026-02-25: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB167) (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-20: Committee substitute printed 26108244D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-20: Reported from Appropriations with substitute (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-20: House committee offered (House)
- 2026-02-12: Assigned HAPP sub: Higher Education (House)
- 2026-02-12: Referred to Committee on Appropriations (House)
- 2026-02-12: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-12: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-09: Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-26: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB167) (Senate)
- 2026-01-22: Reported from Education and Health and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-19: Assigned Education sub: Higher Education (Senate)
- 2026-01-08: Referred to Committee on Education and Health (Senate)
- 2026-01-08: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101621D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217239.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217238.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1188650.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1188649.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-20: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171495.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171447.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171494.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171446.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083614.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083613.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
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217239.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217238.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1188650.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1188649.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171495.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171447.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171494.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1171446.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083614.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083613.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB167-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).