2024 Virginia Legislative Guide
Public education in Albemarle County is deeply affected by what occurs in Richmond. The General Assembly allocates a substantial amount of state revenue to K-12 public education (though not nearly enough), and it also enacts legislation that directly affects local school division policy and operations. As a result, Forward Albemarle is tracking education-related legislation in the 2024 General Assembly, which convened last Wednesday, January 10.
We have created this guide to easily track the progress of the legislation, and to determine how to easily direct advocacy measures.
Use the links below to jump to specific bills:
SB 14 / HB 458
School Funding
SB 37
Forced Outing of Students
SB 64 / HB 25 / HB 138
Permanent Tax Holiday
SB 68
Athletics/Transgender Students
SB 104 / HB 187
Teacher Compensation
SB 127
Public School Staffing Ratios
SB 128 / HB 359
Public School Funding
SB 187 / SB 220 / HB 1089
Special Education Services
SB 283
School Meals
Sales Tax Authorization for School Building Projects
This bill will authorize all counties and cities in the Commonwealth to impose an additional sales and use tax, up to a maximum of 1%, with the proceeds to be used only for school construction projects (both constructing new schools and renovating existing ones).
Background/Information
Under current law, only a handful of counties are allowed to do so; some of these previous bills were enacted with bipartisan support. A similar bill was approved in the Senate last year with bipartisan support, but died in the GOP-controlled House. With Democrats winning full control of the legislature last fall, and many key legislators listed as co-sponsors (including local representatives Senator Creigh Deeds and Delegate Katrina Callsen), the prospects for it to pass look much better this year. However, Governor Youngkin has been silent so far.
Primary Legislative Patrons
SB 14: Senator Jeremy McPike (D - 29th)
HB 458: Katrina Callsen (D - 54th)
Forward Albemarle’s Position - Support
Forward Albemarle supports this legislation, as it is critically important to find additional revenue to support school construction projects, as Albemarle County Public Schools face a $10 million shortfall in state funding for next fiscal year due to changes in the school funding formula, as well as increased construction costs for a new elementary school in the Southern Feeder Pattern and High School Center II. We also hope that this tax can be implemented in a way to make it less regressive, such as exempting groceries and essential hygiene products, so that it reduces the impact on lower-income families.
Current Status: SB 14
11/25/23: Referred to Committee on Finance and Appropriations
1/23/24: Sentate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y, 4-N)
1/24/24: Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y, 0-N)
1/29/24: Senate: Engrossment reconsidered by Senate (40-Y, 0-N)
1/29/24: PASSED SENATE (27-Y, 13-N)
2/13/24: House: Referred to Committee on Finance
Current Status: HB 458
1/8/24: Referred to Committee on Finance
2/05/24: House: Subcommittee recommends incorporating (HB805) by voice vote
SB 37
Forced Outing of Minor Students
This bill would require Principals and staff to inform the parents or guardians of minors who express a gender identity the does not match their biological sex.
Background/Information
These bills, introduced by right-wing legislators Senator John McGuire (who is currently running for Congress) and Delegate Nick Freitas, would involuntarily “out” transgender and non-binary students, increasing the risk of abuse and self-harm for these children.
Legislative Patron
SB 37: Senator John McGuire (R - 10th)
Forward Albemarle’s Position - Oppose
Forward Albemarle opposes this legislation, which fortunately looks to be dead-on-arrival in both chambers.
Current Status: SB 37
1/16/24: Assigned to Education and Health Subcommittee: Public Education
2/8/24: PASSED BY INDEFINITELY in education and health (9-Y, 6-N)
Background/Information
These bills, introduced by both Democrats and Republicans, would make permanent an annual sales tax holiday in August that includes school supplies and clothing and footwear, which would ease a financial burden from both families and educators.
Legislative Patrons
SB 64: Tara Durant (R - 27th)
HB 25: Delegate David Reid (D - 28th)
HB 138: Delegate Chad (R - 69th)
Forward Albemarle’s Position - Support
Forward Albemarle supports this legislation, as it helps make it a bit easier to afford back-to-school essentials for our kids
Current Status: SB 64
1/16/24: Incorporated into SB 116 (Lucas)
Current Status: HB 25
1/17/24: Reported from Finance with amendments
1/24/24: Senate: Referred to Committee of Finance and Appropriations
Current Status: HB 138
1/17/24: Stricken from docket by Finance
SB 68
Transgender Student Participation in Athletics
This bill would prohibit participation by transgender student in sports aligned with their gender identity.
Background/Information
This bill would exclude transgender students from participating in school sports aligned with their gender identity if they did not physically transition prior to puberty.
Legislative Patron
Senator Mark Peake (R - 8th)
Forward Albemarle’s Position - Opposed
Forward Albemarle opposes this legislation, which is yet another example of anti-transgender bigotry that would deprive an already vulnerable group from the benefits of playing sports.
Current Status
1/16/24: Assigned Education and Health Subcommittee: Public Education
2/8/24: PASSED BY INDEFINITELY in Education and Health (9-Y, 6-N)
Background/Information
These bills, introduced by Senator Locke and Delegate Clark, would require that public school teachers be compensated at a rate that is at or above the national average teacher salary and would increase state funding to achieve this objective.
Legislative Patrons
SB 104: Senator L. Louise Lucas (D - 18th)
HB 187: Delegate Nadarius Clark (D - 84th)
Forward Albemarle’s Position - Support
Forward Albemarle supports this legislation, as Virginia teachers historically have had one of the biggest pay gaps in the country and currently are paid more than $5000 below the national average. This disparity for our hard-working and talented teachers is unacceptable, especially when Virginia ranks in the top quarter of per capita income.
Current Status: SB 104
1/11/24: Referred to Finance and Appropriations
2/8/24: Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (15-Y, 0-N)
2/12/24: Senate: PASSED SENATE (40-Y, 0-N)
2/15/24: House: Referred to Committee on Education
Current Status: HB 187
1/17/24: Referred to Committee on Appropriations
1/18/24: Assigned to Appropriation subcommittee - Elementary & Secondary Education
2/7/24: House: Reported from Appropriations with substitute (15-Y, 7-N)
2/13/24: House: PASSED HOUSE (74-Y, 24-N)
2/14/24: Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health
SB 127
Public School Staffing Ratios
This bill would required increased specialize support staff in public schools.
Background/Information
This bill, introduced by Senator VanValkenburg (who is a teacher at a public high school), would require school divisions to provide more school counselor and specialized student support positions for students, including school social workers, psychologists, school nurses, licensed behavior analysts, and other licensed health and behavioral positions. Two companion bills in the House of Delegates, HB 181 and HB 386, combined would achieve the same objectives.
Legislative Patron
Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg (D - 16th)
Forward Albemarle’s Position - Support
Forward Albemarle supports this legislation, as we believe that student health and well-being must be a priority.
Current Status
1/18/24: Referred to Finance and Appropriations
2/8/24: Senate: Incorporated by Finance and Appropriations (SB105-Lucas) (15-Y, 0-N)
Background/Information
These bills, introduced by Senator VanValkenburg and Delegate Simonds, would require the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to account for certain staff costs, including transportation workers, when determining Standards of Quality (SOQ) funding calculations and prohibiting VDOE from capping inflation-rate adjustments to non-personal costs when determining state aid to public education.
Legislative Patrons
SB 128: Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg (D - 16th)
HB 359: Delegate Shelly Simmonds (D - 70th)
Forward Albemarle’s Position - Support
Forward Albemarle supports this legislation, which will help increase state support for public education in an equitable way.
Current Status: SB 128
1/18/24: Referred to Finance and Appropriations
2/8/24: Senate: Incorporated by Finance and Appropriations (SB105-Lucas) (15-Y, 0-N)
Current Status: HB 359
1/19/24: Assigned Education Subcommittee - K-12 Subcommittee
2/7/24: House: Continued to 2025 in Appropriations by voice vote
Background/Information
These are all bills that intend to improve special education and related services for children with disabilities in public schools, including additional state funding to cover the actual average division cost to educate children with disabilities (SB 228) and requirements for school divisions to provide high-quality professional development in instructional practices in inclusive settings and increased support services to parents of a child with disabilities (SB 187 and HB 1089).
Legislative Patrons
SB 187: Senator Suhas Subramanyam (D - 32nd)
SB 220: Senator Barbara Favola (D - 40th)
HB 1089: Delegate Carrie Coyner (R - 75th)
Forward Albemarle’s Position - Support
Forward Albemarle supports this legislation, as we believe it furthers our goal of meeting the needs of all ACPS students, including students with disabilities.
Current Status: SB 187
1/8/24: Referred to Committee on Rules
2/8/24: Senate: Incorporated by Finance and Appropriations (SB105-Lucas) (15-Y, 0-N)
Current Status: SB 220
1/8/24: Referred to Committee on Education and Health
2/8/24: Reported from Education and Health with substitute (15-Y, 0-N)
2/8/24: Senate: Referred to Finance and Appropriations
2/13/24: Senate: PASSED SENATE (40-Y, 0-N)
2/15/24: House: Assigned Education sub, K-12 Subcommittee
Current Status: HB 1089
1/10/24: Referred to Committee on Education
1/31/24: House: Reported from Education with substitute (21-Y, 0-N)
1/31/24: House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations, Assigned App sub: Elementary & Secondary Ed.
2/7/24: House: Reported from Appropriations with amendments (22-Y, 0-N)
2/13/24: House: Block Vote Passage (99-Y, 0-N)
SB 283
School Meals
This bill would ensure that meals are made free and available for all students in all public schools.
Background/Information
This bill, by Senator Roem, would require that each school board require all public schools participate in the federal National School Lunch Program and federal School Breakfast program and to make lunch and breakfast available to any student who wants it at no cost. The state would reimburse each school for the cost of this program.
Legislative Patron
Senator Danica Roem (D - 30th)
Forward Albemarle’s Position - Support
Forward Albemarle supports this legislation, as no child should go hungry while at school. There are numerous benefits to universal free school meals, including increased student attendance rates, improved student health, and better test scores.
Current Status
1/18/24: Referred to Finance and Appropriations
2/13/24: Senate: PASSED SENATE (40-Y, 0-N)
2/15/24: House: Referred to Committee on Education