Legislative Update: Legislative Snapshot

Legislative Snapshot

To date, your HEAV legislative team has reviewed 2,792 bills. We have continually monitored legislation and advocated for the homeschool community at the General Assembly.
HEAV held its 2026 Homeschool Day at the Capitol on February 5. See “Advocacy in Action” and the warm welcome our community received on the floor at the opening of the General Assembly session.

Crossover Update

February 18 was Crossover. This is the deadline for each body to exchange most legislation with the other chamber for consideration. Bills that are not acted upon or transmitted by this deadline usually do not advance, except in rare cases through special procedural action.

Following is the status of the bills addressed in our last legislative update:

HB534: Students who receive home instruction; teacher evaluation letter of student academic progress.

Chief Patron: Delegate Karen Hamilton (R-62)
The bill proposed changing the credentials required for an evaluator from a master’s degree to a bachelor’s degree.

Status: With a 7-Y to 3-N vote, the House Education K‑12 Subcommittee recommended gently tabling the bill.

HB551 and SB737: Nondegree workforce training programs; accreditation.

Chief Patrons: Delegate Jessica Anderson (D-71) and Senator J.D. “Danny” Diggs (R-24), respectively
These companion bills were a bipartisan effort to establish an accreditation pathway for non-degree workforce training programs for people—including homeschoolers aged 16 and older—to gain skills needed for today’s workforce.

Status: HB551 was continued to the 2027 session by voice vote in the House General Laws Committee, and the Senate General Laws and Technology Committee took the same action in a 15‑Y to 0‑N vote.

HB1204 and SB733: Local governing bodies; appropriations of local school funds to families for compulsory student attendance in nonpublic school settings.

Chief Patrons: Delegate Phillip A. Scott (R-63) and Senator Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. (R-12), respectively

These companion bills allowed local governments to allocate a portion of state education funding to families who meet Virginia’s compulsory attendance requirements and educate their children in nonpublic settings. While the bills provided access to public funds for homeschooling families, they did not impose regulations on how families operated their homeschools.

Status: In a 7‑Y to 3‑N vote, the House Education K‑12 Subcommittee recommended laying HB534 on the table. The Senate Education and Health Committee voted 10‑Y to 5‑N to pass SB733 indefinitely.

HB359: Private elementary or secondary school; use of public funds for tuition, standards.

Chief Patron: Delegate Dan. I Helmer (D-10)

The bill subjected private schools to a comprehensive public-school-style regulatory framework if the school enrolled even one student receiving public funds for tuition. Learn more here.

Status: By voice vote, the House Appropriations Committee continued the bill to 2027.

What’s Next

HEAV will continue to monitor bills as the session continues and provide regular updates.

Be sure to sign up for HEAV’s emailed Legislative Updates, watch our blog, and follow us on social media to stay up to date on the latest from Virginia’s 2026 legislative session.

For 43 years, HEAV has been on the front lines, working to establish, expand, and protect homeschool freedom. Community support is essential in making this happen.

Partner with HEAV to support this important work today.

With warm regards,