Education - Higher Education Subcommittee Agenda

Chair: Sewell, Briana

Meeting Date & Time: 02/09/2026 Immediately upon adjournment of full committee Add to Calendar

Location: House Committee Room A - 008

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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
HB56 Feggans Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program; tuition and fee waivers, eligibility.

Summary: A BILL to direct the Department of Veterans Services and the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to study the fiscal and administrative impact of expanding eligibility for the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program to include line of duty deaths; report.

Fiscal Impact

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Rules (9-Y 0-N 1-A)

Yeas (9): Sewell, McQuinn, Laufer, LeVere Bolling, Dougherty, Bulova, Tata, Scott, P.A., Rasoul

Abstaining (1): Garrett

Not Voting (1): Clark

Last actions:

  • 2/11/2026 - Reported from Education with substitute and referred to Rules (21-Y 0-N)
  • 2/11/2026 - Committee substitute printed 26106175D-H1
  • 2/11/2026 - Referred to Committee on Rules
  • 2/11/2026 - Reported and Referred by Committee
  • 2/11/2026 - Reported and Referred by Committee

Higher Education

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Rules (9-Y 0-N 1-A)

HB430 LeVere Bolling New College Institute; membership and composition of board of directors.

Summary: A BILL to amend and reenact § 23.1-3112 of the Code of Virginia, relating to institutions of higher education; educational authorities, centers, committees, funds, institutes, and partnerships; New College Institute; board of directors; membership and composition.

Fiscal Impact

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

Yeas (9): Sewell, McQuinn, Laufer, LeVere Bolling, Dougherty, Bulova, Tata, Garrett, Rasoul

Nays (1): Scott, P.A.

Not Voting (1): Clark

Last actions:

  • 2/16/2026 - Read second time
  • 2/16/2026 - committee substitute agreed to
  • 2/16/2026 - Engrossed by House - committee substitute
  • 2/17/2026 - Read third time and passed House (92-Y 5-N 0-A)
  • 2/19/2026 - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB430)

Senate Committee Actions:

• 2/18/2026 - Referred to Committee on Education and Health

• 2/26/2026 - Placed on Education and Health docket for Feb 26, 2026

• 2/26/2026 - Removed from Education and HealthPublic Education docket for Feb 26, 2026

• 2/26/2026 - Reported from Education and Health with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)

• 2/26/2026 - Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

Related Bills:

SB299 (Srinivasan)

Higher Education Subcommittee

Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N)

HB502 McAuliff Baccalaureate public institutions of higher education; fixed in-state tuition rates.

Summary: A BILL to require the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to assess the potential impact of a fixed Virginia student tuition policy; report.

Fiscal Impact

Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (6-Y 3-N)

Yeas (6): Sewell, McQuinn, Laufer, LeVere Bolling, Dougherty, Bulova

Nays (3): Tata, Scott, P.A., Garrett

Not Voting (1): Clark

Last actions:

  • 2/13/2026 - Read first time
  • 2/16/2026 - Read second time
  • 2/16/2026 - committee substitute agreed to
  • 2/16/2026 - Engrossed by House - committee substitute
  • 2/17/2026 - Read third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

Senate Committee Actions:

• 2/18/2026 - Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

• 2/18/2026 - Referred to Committee on Education and Health

• 2/23/2026 - Assigned Education sub: Higher Education

• 2/26/2026 - Placed on Education and Health docket for Feb 26, 2026

• 2/26/2026 - Removed from Education and HealthPublic Education docket for Feb 26, 2026

Higher Education

Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (6-Y 3-N)

HB780 Callsen Higher educational institutions, public; appointment and composition of members, powers and duties.

Summary: A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-106, 2.2-107, 2.2-108, 2.2-406, 2.2-507, 23.1-200, as it shall become effective, 23.1-1006, 23.1-1300, 23.1-1301, 23.1-1303, 23.1-1304, 23.1-1306, 23.1-1401, 23.1-1402, 23.1-1501, 23.1-1502, 23.1-1601, 23.1-1701, 23.1-1801, 23.1-1802, 23.1-1901, 23.1-2001, 23.1-2002, 23.1-2101, 23.1-2106, 23.1-2107, 23.1-2201, 23.1-2202, 23.1-2209, 23.1-2303, 23.1-2304, 23.1-2501, 23.1-2502, 23.1-2601, 23.1-2602, 23.1-2605, 23.1-2701, 23.1-2801, and 23.1-2902 of the Code of Virginia; to amend the Code of Virginia by adding sections numbered 23.1-102.2, 23.1-1303.1, and 23.1-1303.2; and to repeal § 23.1-2504 of the Code of Virginia, relating to public institutions of higher education; governing boards; appointment and composition of members; powers and duties; legal counsel.

Fiscal Impact

Subcommittee recommends incorporating (Voice Vote)

Last actions:

  • 2/5/2026 - Assigned HED sub: Higher Education
  • 2/6/2026 - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB780)
  • 2/6/2026 - Placed on Education Agenda
  • 2/9/2026 - Subcommittee recommends incorporating (Voice Vote)
  • 2/10/2026 - Placed on Education Agenda

Related Bills:

SB381 (Surovell)

Higher Education

Subcommittee recommends incorporating (Voice Vote)

HB939 Franklin, L.V. Higher ed. institu., baccalaureate public; board of visitors of Richard Bland College, membership.

Summary: A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 23.1-1006, 23.1-1300, 23.1-1401, 23.1-1501, 23.1-1601, 23.1-1701, 23.1-1801, 23.1-1901, 23.1-2001, 23.1-2101, 23.1-2106, 23.1-2201, 23.1-2303, 23.1-2501, 23.1-2601, 23.1-2701, and 23.1-2801 of the Code of Virginia, relating to baccalaureate public institutions of higher education; Richard Bland College; boards of visitors; membership; student representative.

Subcommittee recommends incorporating (Voice Vote)

Last actions:

  • 1/13/2026 - Referred to Committee on Education
  • 2/5/2026 - Assigned HED sub: Higher Education
  • 2/6/2026 - Placed on Education Agenda
  • 2/9/2026 - Subcommittee recommends incorporating (Voice Vote)
  • 2/10/2026 - Placed on Education Agenda

Higher Education

Subcommittee recommends incorporating (Voice Vote)

HB971 Price College student-athletes; biometric data, protections and limitations.

Summary: A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 23.1-408.2, relating to college student-athletes; biometric data; protections and limitations.

Fiscal Impact

Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 3-N)

Yeas (6): Sewell, McQuinn, Laufer, LeVere Bolling, Dougherty, Bulova

Nays (3): Tata, Scott, P.A., Garrett

Not Voting (1): Clark

Last actions:

  • 2/10/2026 - Placed on Education Agenda
  • 2/11/2026 - Reported from Education (19-Y 1-N 1-A)
  • 2/13/2026 - Read first time
  • 2/16/2026 - Read second time and engrossed
  • 2/17/2026 - Read third time and passed House (93-Y 3-N 0-A)

Senate Committee Actions:

• 2/18/2026 - Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

• 2/18/2026 - Referred to Committee on Education and Health

• 2/26/2026 - Removed from Education and HealthPublic Education docket for Feb 26, 2026

Higher Education

Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 3-N)

HB1069 Laufer Higher educational institutions, certain; membership of boards of visitors.

Summary: A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 23.1-1300, 23.1-1401, 23.1-1501, 23.1-1601, 23.1-1701, 23.1-1801, 23.1-1901, 23.1-2001, 23.1-2101, 23.1-2106, 23.1-2201, 23.1-2303, 23.1-2501, 23.1-2601, 23.1-2701, and 23.1-2801 of the Code of Virginia, relating to boards of visitors of baccalaureate public institutions of higher education and Richard Bland College and local community college boards; membership; faculty representative and staff representative.

Fiscal Impact

Subcommittee recommends incorporating (Voice Vote)

Last actions:

  • 1/14/2026 - Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101190D
  • 1/14/2026 - Committee Referral Pending
  • 1/14/2026 - Referred to Committee on Education
  • 2/3/2026 - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1069)
  • 2/5/2026 - Assigned HED sub: Higher Education

Higher Education

Subcommittee recommends incorporating (Voice Vote)

HB1378 Wiley Community Colleges, powers, State Board for; acquisition and improvement of certain property.

Summary: A BILL to authorize the State Board for Community Colleges to acquire certain property located adjacent to the campus of Laurel Ridge Community College.

Fiscal Impact

Subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations (8-Y 1-N)

Yeas (8): Sewell, McQuinn, Laufer, LeVere Bolling, Dougherty, Bulova, Tata, Garrett

Nays (1): Scott, P.A.

Not Voting (1): Clark

Last actions:

  • 2/13/2026 - Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N)
  • 2/13/2026 - Reported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)
  • 2/15/2026 - Read first time
  • 2/16/2026 - Read second time and engrossed
  • 2/17/2026 - Read third time and passed House (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

Senate Committee Actions:

• 2/18/2026 - Referred to Committee on Education and Health

• 2/26/2026 - Placed on Education and Health docket for Feb 26, 2026

• 2/26/2026 - Removed from Education and HealthPublic Education docket for Feb 26, 2026

• 2/26/2026 - Reported from Education and Health and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)

• 2/26/2026 - Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

Related Bills:

SB773 (French)

General Government and Capital Outlay Subcommittee

Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N)

HB1385 Franklin, L.V. Gubernatorial appointments; confirmation process, etc, report.

Summary: A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 23.1-1300, 23.1-1303, 23.1-1304, 23.1-2303, and 23.1-2601 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 23.1-1303.1, relating to public institutions of higher education; governing boards; powers and duties relating to legal counsel; membership appointment, terms, and composition; duties relating to shared governance; requirements; work group.

Fiscal Impact

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N)

Yeas (7): Sewell, McQuinn, Laufer, LeVere Bolling, Dougherty, Bulova, Rasoul

Nays (3): Tata, Scott, P.A., Garrett

Not Voting (1): Clark

Last actions:

  • 2/16/2026 - Read second time
  • 2/16/2026 - committee substitute agreed to
  • 2/16/2026 - Engrossed by House - committee substitute
  • 2/17/2026 - Read third time and passed House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)
  • 2/19/2026 - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1385)

Senate Committee Actions:

• 2/18/2026 - Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

• 2/18/2026 - Referred to Committee on Education and Health

• 2/26/2026 - Placed on Education and Health docket for Feb 26, 2026

• 2/26/2026 - Removed from Education and HealthPublic Education docket for Feb 26, 2026

• 2/26/2026 - Reported from Education and Health with substitute (10-Y 5-N)

Higher Education

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N)

HB1473 Schmidt Higher educational institutions, public; restrictions on student speech, limitations.

Summary: A BILL to amend and reenact § 23.1-401 of the Code of Virginia, relating to public institutions of higher education; students and campus; restrictions on student speech; limitations.

Fiscal Impact

Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote)

Last actions:

  • 2/6/2026 - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1473)
  • 2/9/2026 - House subcommittee offered
  • 2/9/2026 - Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote)
  • 2/10/2026 - Placed on Education Agenda
  • 2/11/2026 - Continued to next session in Education (Voice Vote)

Higher Education

Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote)