STATE BILLVA HB 461PASSED

Special education; certain educational settings, student age range restriction.

Special education; student age range restrictions in educational settings. Prohibits any student with a disability in grades kindergarten through six from being regularly assigned to any educational setting, including any specialized educational setting, in which the maximum age range exceeds four years unless the student's individualized education program (IEP) team determines that an exception is appropriate and justifies such exception in the student's IEP. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027.

Status: Passed; Signed or otherwise enacted
Status date: Apr 13, 2026; 213 days ago
Current chamber: House of Delegates
Session: 2026 Regular Session

VA HB 461 · PassedApr 13

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Bill details

Last action: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0617) · Apr 13, 2026

Bill history

Newest first.

Apr 13, 2026Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0617)

Apr 13, 2026Approved by Governor - Chapter 617 (effective - 7/1/2027)

Mar 31, 2026Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

Mar 31, 2026Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026House

Mar 31, 2026Signed by SpeakerHouse

Mar 31, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB461)House

Mar 30, 2026Signed by PresidentSenate

Mar 30, 2026Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB461ER)House

Show 30 earlier actions

Mar 30, 2026EnrolledHouse

Mar 11, 2026Senate amendment agreed to by House (71-Y 28-N 0-A)House

Mar 10, 2026Passed Senate with amendment (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Senate

Mar 10, 2026Engrossed by Senate as amendedSenate

Mar 10, 2026Education and Health Amendment agreed toSenate

Mar 10, 2026Read third timeSenate

Mar 9, 2026Passed by for the daySenate

Mar 6, 2026Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)Senate

Mar 6, 2026Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)Senate

Mar 6, 2026Rules suspendedSenate

Mar 5, 2026Reported from Education and Health with amendment (9-Y 6-N)Senate

Feb 26, 2026Senate subcommittee offeredSenate

Feb 26, 2026Assigned Education sub: Public EducationSenate

Feb 18, 2026Referred to Committee on Education and HealthSenate

Feb 18, 2026Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)Senate

Feb 17, 2026Read third time and passed House (69-Y 28-N 0-A)House

Feb 16, 2026Engrossed by House - committee substituteHouse

Feb 16, 2026committee substitute agreed toHouse

Feb 16, 2026Read second timeHouse

Feb 13, 2026Read first timeHouse

Feb 11, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB461)House

Feb 11, 2026Committee substitute printed 26107653D-H1House

Feb 11, 2026Reported from Education with substitute (16-Y 5-N)House

Feb 11, 2026House committee offeredHouse

Feb 10, 2026Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (9-Y 1-N)House

Feb 9, 2026House subcommittee offeredHouse

Feb 5, 2026Assigned HED sub: K-12 SubcommitteeHouse

Feb 2, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB461)House

Jan 12, 2026Referred to Committee on EducationHouse

Jan 12, 2026Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101364DHouse

Recorded votes

Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (9-Y 1-N)Feb 10, 2026 · House · 9 yea · 1 nayPassed

Reported from Education with substitute (16-Y 5-N)Feb 11, 2026 · House · 16 yea · 5 nayPassed

Read third time and passed House (69-Y 28-N 0-A)Feb 17, 2026 · House · 69 yea · 28 nayPassed

Reported from Education and Health with amendment (9-Y 6-N)Mar 5, 2026 · Senate · 9 yea · 6 nayPassed

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)Mar 6, 2026 · Senate · 39 yea · 0 nayPassed

Passed Senate with amendment (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Mar 10, 2026 · Senate · 21 yea · 19 nayPassed

Senate amendment agreed to by House (71-Y 28-N 0-A)Mar 11, 2026 · House · 71 yea · 28 nayPassed

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Special education; certain educational settings, student age range restriction.

What it means for vendors

Bill details

Sponsors

Bill history

Recorded votes

Read the bill at the source

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Special education; certain educational settings, student age range restriction.

What it means for vendors

Bill details

Sponsors

Bill history

Recorded votes

Read the bill at the source

Start finding government buyers today.It's free.

Start finding government buyers today.
It's free.