STATE BILLVA HB 478PASSED

Diploma seal for excellence in fine arts; established, industry-recognized workforce credential.

Diploma seal for excellence in fine arts established; industry-recognized workforce credential. Requires the Board of Education to establish criteria for awarding a high school diploma seal for excellence in fine arts, which may include a sequence of coursework, cumulative grade point average in such sequence of coursework, or any other performance-based criteria that the Board deems appropriate. The bill also requires the Board to add such diploma seal to its list of industry-recognized workforce credentials for the purpose of satisfying the career and technical education credential option for high school graduation.

Status: Passed; Signed or otherwise enacted
Status date: Apr 6, 2026; 220 days ago
Current chamber: House of Delegates
Session: 2026 Regular Session

VA HB 478 · PassedApr 6

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Bill details

Last action: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0152) · Apr 6, 2026

Sponsor

VWVivian WattsRepresentative · Democrat · HD-014Primary sponsor

Bill history

Newest first.

Apr 6, 2026Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0152)

Apr 6, 2026Approved by Governor-Chapter 152 (effective 7/1/2026)

Mar 10, 2026Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

Mar 10, 2026Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026House

Mar 5, 2026Signed by PresidentSenate

Mar 5, 2026Signed by SpeakerHouse

Mar 5, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB478)House

Mar 5, 2026Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB478ER)House

Show 19 earlier actions

Mar 5, 2026EnrolledHouse

Mar 2, 2026Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Senate

Mar 2, 2026Read third timeSenate

Feb 27, 2026Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)Senate

Feb 27, 2026Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)Senate

Feb 27, 2026Rules suspendedSenate

Feb 26, 2026Reported from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)Senate

Feb 19, 2026Assigned Education sub: Public EducationSenate

Feb 16, 2026Referred to Committee on Education and HealthSenate

Feb 16, 2026Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)Senate

Feb 13, 2026Read third time and passed House (68-Y 28-N 0-A)House

Feb 12, 2026Read second time and engrossedHouse

Feb 11, 2026Read first timeHouse

Feb 9, 2026Reported from Education (17-Y 3-N 1-A)House

Feb 4, 2026Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 1-N)House

Jan 30, 2026Assigned HED sub: Early Childhood and InnovationHouse

Jan 29, 2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB478)House

Jan 12, 2026Referred to Committee on EducationHouse

Jan 12, 2026Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102498DHouse

Recorded votes

Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 1-N)Feb 4, 2026 · House · 9 yea · 1 nayPassed

Reported from Education (17-Y 3-N 1-A)Feb 9, 2026 · House · 17 yea · 3 nayPassed

Read third time and passed House (68-Y 28-N 0-A)Feb 13, 2026 · House · 68 yea · 28 nayPassed

Reported from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)Feb 26, 2026 · Senate · 15 yea · 0 nayPassed

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)Feb 27, 2026 · Senate · 37 yea · 0 nayPassed

Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Mar 2, 2026 · Senate · 40 yea · 0 nayPassed

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