Virginia Action

Tag Update

Education Bills Update 1/20

EDUCATION

OPPOSE

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE

These bills will be voted on in the Senate Public Education Subcommittee on Thursday, January 16th, 30 minutes after the Senate floor adjourns in Senate Room C, Room 311, of the General Assembly Building

These bills will now be voted on in the Senate Public Education Subcommittee on TODAY, Monday, January 20th.

SB1031 – Religious Exemption for Education Requirements

Attacks the homeschooling religious exemption process by requiring parents to meet educational qualifications, submit annual notices and progress reports, and demonstrate certain instruction methods.

SB979 – Delayed implementation of new Public School Accountability System

This bill directs the Department of Education to delay for one year the implementation of the revised public school accountability system adopted recently by the State Board of Education after robust research and discussion.

SUPPORT

SB1346 – Virginia Opportunity Scholarships

The Virginia Opportunity Scholarship program is designed to give students greater access to learning opportunities that best meet their needs. 10,000 eligible K-12 students can receive $5,000 per academic year. This program is for Virginia students whose household income does not exceed $81,120 for a family of four. This scholarship puts money directly into families’ hands for expenses of attending an accredited private school in Virginia including, tuition, transportation, books, and other qualified educational expenses— such as summer school programs— so families can access the opportunities that work best for their child.

To see bill text and info: Click HERE

Please contact these Senators and ask them to vote NO on SB1031 and SB979.

Subcommittee: Public EducationDistrictPhone NumberEmail
Chair: Senator Schuyler T. VanValkenburg (D)16(804) 698-7516[email protected]
Senator Christie New Craig (R)19(804) 698-7519[email protected]
Senator Mamie E. Locke (D)23(804) 698-7523[email protected]
Senator Mark J. Peake (R)8(804) 698-7508[email protected]
Senator Stella G. Pekarsky (D)36(804) 698-7536[email protected]
Election Bills Update

ELECTIONS

These bills were killed yesterday, January 13th, 2025, through the motion to table them in the House Election Administration Subcommittee.

HB 1573 – Reduces early voting to 10 days.

Proposed reducing the early absentee voting period in Virginia from 45 days to 10 days before an election. The change would have ensured that absentee voting remains available but within a more focused timeframe. It also would have reduced the administrative burden on local election offices, fostering efficient use of resources without compromising access.

HB 1574 – Early Voting Period Reduction 

Would have shortened early voting from 45 to 10 days before general elections while extending daily hours to 7am-7pm, balancing voter access with stronger election oversight. Primary elections would have maintained a 10-day early voting period.

HB1652 – Multiple Election Integrity Proposals

This bill would have required photo ID for voting, eliminated most same day voter registration, reduced early voting to 14 days, required mail in ballots to be received by Election Day and postmarked before Election Day and eliminated drop boxes.