# Virginia SB309: Driver education programs; voluntary initiatives for drivers with autism spectrum disorder.

Virginia SB309, Driver education programs; voluntary initiatives for drivers with autism spectrum disorder., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Stella G. Pekarsky (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-06 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0341)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB309-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB309
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Driver education programs; voluntary initiatives for drivers with autism spectrum disorder.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-04-06, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0341)
- Sponsor: Stella G. Pekarsky (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 8 (220 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

Driver education programs; voluntary initiatives for drivers with autism spectrum disorder. Requires driver education programs to include information about voluntary initiatives for drivers with autism spectrum disorder, including the driver communication improvement program, the driver's license indicator option, and the registration indicator option. The bill also directs the Board of Education to prepare, publish, and distribute instructional materials about these voluntary initiatives.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Driver classes teach autism support options: benefit, low. Virginia public-school driver classes must teach about voluntary support options for drivers with autism. These include a communication program and optional indicators on driver's licenses and vehicle registrations. The parent/student component and Board of Education teaching materials must also co…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Stella G. Pekarsky (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-03 | House | Passed House Block Vote | pass | 97 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-26 | House | Reported from Transportation | pass | 21 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-24 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting | pass | 10 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-02 | Senate | Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-30 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-30 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 38 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-29 | Senate | Reported from Education and Health | pass | 15 | 0 |   |

## Actions (29)

- 2026-04-06: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0341) (Governor)
- 2026-04-06: Approved by Governor-Chapter 341 (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)
- 2026-03-09: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB309) (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB309ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-03: Passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-03: Read third time (House)
- 2026-03-02: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-26: Reported from Transportation (21-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-24: Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-20: Assigned HTRAN sub: Department of Motor Vehicles (House)
- 2026-02-06: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-06: Referred to Committee on Transportation (House)
- 2026-02-06: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-03: Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB309) (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (38-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-01-29: Reported from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-22: Assigned Education sub: Public Education (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Education and Health (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104693D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217415.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217414.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-09: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1195988.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1195987.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1088833.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1088832.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/1217415.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217414.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1195988.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1195987.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1088833.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1088832.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)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB309-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).