Education - Early Childhood and Innovation Subcommittee Agenda

Chair: Convirs-Fowler, Kelly

Meeting Date & Time: 02/04/2026 Immediately upon adjournment of full committee Add to Calendar

Location: House Committee Room A - 008

Testimony/Comments: Sign up to speak or submit comments (opens in a new window)

Additional Resource(s):

Active item: Meeting Adjourned

Video: Archived

Committee Clerk: (804) 698-1945

DLS Contact: (804) 698 - 1820

Block 1

Bill(s) Patron Title
HB125 Reaser Public school teachers; reemployment of teacher who has not received continuing contract status.

Summary: An Act to amend and reenact § 22.1-304 of the Code of Virginia, relating to public elementary and secondary schools; teachers; terms of employment; reemployment of teacher who has received continuing contract status; written notice required.

Fiscal Impact

Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 1-N)

Yeas (9): Guzman, Sewell, Askew, Cousins, Reaser, Anderson, Zehr, Whittle, Rasoul

Nays (1): Kent

Not Voting (1): Convirs-Fowler

Last actions:

  • 3/13/2026 - Enrolled
  • 3/13/2026 - Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB125ER)
  • 3/13/2026 - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB125)
  • 3/13/2026 - Signed by Speaker
  • 3/14/2026 - Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

Senate Committee Actions:

• 2/27/2026 - Senate requested conference committee

• 3/4/2026 - Conferees appointed by Senate

• 3/4/2026 - Senate Conferees: Pekarsky, Craig, VanValkenburg

• 3/6/2026 - Conference report agreed to by Senate (24-Y 16-N 0-A)

• 3/13/2026 - Signed by President

Early Childhood and Innovation

Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 1-N)

HB478 Watts Diploma seal for excellence in fine arts; established, industry-recognized workforce credential.

Summary: An Act to amend and reenact §§ 22.1-253.13:1, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, and 22.1-253.13:4 of the Code of Virginia, relating to diploma seal for excellence in fine arts established; industry-recognized workforce credential.

Fiscal Impact

Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 1-N)

Yeas (9): Guzman, Sewell, Askew, Cousins, Reaser, Anderson, Kent, Whittle, Rasoul

Nays (1): Zehr

Not Voting (1): Convirs-Fowler

Last actions:

  • 2/13/2026 - Read third time and passed House (68-Y 28-N 0-A)
  • 3/5/2026 - Enrolled
  • 3/5/2026 - Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB478ER)
  • 3/5/2026 - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB478)
  • 3/5/2026 - Signed by Speaker

Senate Committee Actions:

• 2/27/2026 - Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

• 2/27/2026 - Passed by for the day

• 3/2/2026 - Read third time

• 3/2/2026 - Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

• 3/5/2026 - Signed by President

Early Childhood and Innovation

Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 1-N)

HB941 Clark High school graduation requirements; hands-on bleeding control training.

Summary: A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-253.13:4 of the Code of Virginia, relating to high school graduation requirements; hands-on bleeding control training.

Fiscal Impact

Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations (8-Y 2-N)

Yeas (8): Guzman, Sewell, Askew, Cousins, Reaser, Anderson, Whittle, Rasoul

Nays (2): Zehr, Kent

Not Voting (1): Convirs-Fowler

Last actions:

  • 2/9/2026 - Reported and Referred by Committee
  • 2/9/2026 - Reported and Referred by Committee
  • 2/9/2026 - Assigned HAPP sub: Elementary & Secondary Education
  • 2/10/2026 - Placed on Appropriations Agenda
  • 2/11/2026 - Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (7-Y 0-N)

Elementary and Secondary Subcommittee

Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (7-Y 0-N)

HB955 Guzman Certain student enrollment data; State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to annually report.

Summary: An Act to require the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to annually report certain student enrollment data.

Fiscal Impact

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N)

Yeas (10): Guzman, Sewell, Askew, Cousins, Reaser, Anderson, Zehr, Kent, Whittle, Rasoul

Not Voting (1): Convirs-Fowler

Last actions:

  • 2/11/2026 - Read first time
  • 2/12/2026 - Read second time
  • 2/12/2026 - committee substitute agreed to
  • 2/12/2026 - Engrossed by House - committee substitute
  • 2/13/2026 - Read third time and passed House (88-Y 7-N 0-A)

Senate Committee Actions:

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

• 2/27/2026 - Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

• 2/27/2026 - Passed by for the day

• 3/2/2026 - Read third time

• 3/2/2026 - Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

Early Childhood and Innovation

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N)

HB957 Guzman Public elementary & secondary schools; use 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to address bullying, etc.

Summary: An Act to require the Department of Education to direct each school board to encourage each public elementary and secondary school in the local division to promote or utilize the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to address student bullying and cyberbullying.

Fiscal Impact

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (10-Y 0-N)

Yeas (10): Guzman, Sewell, Askew, Cousins, Reaser, Anderson, Zehr, Kent, Whittle, Rasoul

Not Voting (1): Convirs-Fowler

Last actions:

  • 2/11/2026 - Read first time
  • 2/12/2026 - Read second time
  • 2/12/2026 - committee substitute agreed to
  • 2/12/2026 - Engrossed by House - committee substitute
  • 2/13/2026 - Read third time and passed House (96-Y 0-N 0-A)

Senate Committee Actions:

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

• 2/27/2026 - Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

• 2/27/2026 - Passed by for the day

• 3/2/2026 - Read third time

• 3/2/2026 - Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

Early Childhood and Innovation

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (10-Y 0-N)

HB1208 Sewell Public education; early childhood care and education, child care access calculations, report.

Summary: An Act to amend and reenact § 22.1-289.03 of the Code of Virginia, relating to public education; early childhood care and education; child care access calculations; report.

Fiscal Impact

Subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations (9-Y 1-N)

Yeas (9): Guzman, Sewell, Askew, Cousins, Reaser, Anderson, Kent, Whittle, Rasoul

Nays (1): Zehr

Not Voting (1): Convirs-Fowler

Last actions:

  • 2/12/2026 - Engrossed by House - committee substitute
  • 2/13/2026 - Read third time and passed House (74-Y 22-N 0-A)
  • 2/23/2026 - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1208)
  • 3/3/2026 - Senate substitute rejected by House
  • 3/6/2026 - House acceded to request

Senate Committee Actions:

• 2/27/2026 - Education and Health Substitute agreed to

• 2/27/2026 - Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

• 2/27/2026 - Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (37-Y 0-N 0-A)

• 3/5/2026 - Senate insisted on substitute (38-Y 0-N 0-A)

• 3/5/2026 - Senate requested conference committee

Early Childhood and Innovation

Subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations (9-Y 1-N)