Virginia 2024 Regular Session Status: Enacted

SB 46 — Higher educational institutions, public; admissions applications, legacy admissions, etc.

Last action — Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0002)

Track this bill free

No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House of Delegates
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced December 21, 2023. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin (Republican) on March 08, 2024.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 72% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    1 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 5 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

In plain language

The bill prohibits preferential treatment in college admissions based on legacy status or donor relationships.

This legislation bans public colleges from giving special admissions consideration to applicants based on their familial connections to alumni or donors. It aims to ensure a fairer admissions process.

Summary

Public institutions of higher education; admissions applications; legacy admissions and admissions based on donor status prohibited. Prohibits any public institution of higher education from providing any manner of preferential treatment in the admissions decision to any student applicant on the basis of such student's legacy status, defined in the bill, or such student's familial relationship to any donor to such institution. This bill incorporates SB 71 and is identical to HB 48.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

16 added · 19 removed

Plain-language change summary

The bill SB 46 has been updated to clearly prohibit public colleges and universities in Virginia from giving any preferential treatment to applicants based on their legacy status or their family’s relationship to donors. Legacy status refers to having a family member who attended the same institution. This change is significant because it promotes a fairer admissions process, ensuring that all applicants are evaluated based on their own merits rather than family connections or financial contributions.

→
Previous
Latest
SESSION ENROLLED VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY –– CHAPTER E An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 23.1-407.2, relating to public institutions of higher education;
VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- 2024 SESSION CHAPTER 2 An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 23.1-407.2, relating to public institutions of higher education;
legacy admissions and admissions Rased on donor status prohibited.
legacy admissions and admissions based on donor status prohibited.
O [S 46] L Approved L Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
[S 46] Approved March 8, 2024 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
E 1.
1.
D prohibited.07.2.
§ 23.1-407.2.
legacy admissions and admissions based on donor status A.
legacy admissions and admissions based on donor status prohibited.
A.
admissions decision to any student applicant on the basis of such student's legacy status or sucht in the student's familial relationship to any donor to such institution.
B.
B R
No public institution of higher education shall provide any manner of preferential treatment in the admissions decision to any student applicant on the basis of such student's legacy status or such student's familial relationship to any donor to such institution.
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (4)

Action History

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0002)

  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 2 (effective 7/1/24)

  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 8, 2024

  4. Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 1, 2024

  5. Impact statement from DPB (SB46ER)

  6. Signed by President

  7. Signed by Speaker

  8. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB46ER)

  9. Enrolled

  10. VOTE: Block Vote Passage (99-Y 0-N)

  11. Passed House BLOCK VOTE (99-Y 0-N)

  12. Read third time

  13. Read second time

  14. Reported from Education (21-Y 0-N)

  15. Referred to Committee on Education

  16. Read first time

  17. Placed on Calendar

  18. Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 0-N)

  19. Impact statement from DPB (SB46S1)

  20. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB46S1

  21. Committee substitute agreed to 24105417D-S1

  22. Reading of substitute waived

  23. Read second time

  24. Constitutional reading dispensed (37-Y 0-N)

  25. Incorporates SB71 (McPike)

  26. Committee substitute printed 24105417D-S1

  27. Senate committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered

  28. Reported from Education and Health with substitute (15-Y 0-N)

  29. Assigned Education and Health Sub: Higher Education

  30. Referred to Committee on Education and Health

  31. Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24101274D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 146 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (146)

146 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 146 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

VOTE: Block Vote Passage (99-Y 0-N)

Passed 98 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 98001
Total 98001
% of votes cast 99%0%0%1%
How each member voted (99)
Member Party Vote
Adele Y. McClure — Yea
Alex Q. Askew — Yea
Alfonso H. Lopez — Yea
Amy J. Laufer — Yea
Anne Ferrell Tata — Yea
Arnold, Jonathan, E. P. — Yea
Atoosa R. Reaser — Yea
Batten, Amanda E. — Yea
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
Bill Wiley — Yea
Bonita G. Anthony — Yea
Briana D. Sewell — Yea
Bulova, David L. — Yea
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Yea
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
Chris S. Runion — Yea
Convirs-Fowler, Kelly K. — Yea
Cordoza, A.C. — Yea
Coyner, Carrie E. — Yea
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
David A. Reid — Yea
Debra D. Gardner — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Delores Oates — Yea
Earley, Mark L., Jr. — Yea
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Yea
Ellen H. McLaughlin — Yea
Ennis, N. Baxter — Yea
Eric Phillips — Not Voting
Eric R. Zehr — Yea
Fowler, Hyland F."Buddy," Jr. — Yea
Freitas, Nicholas J. — Yea
Gilbert, C. Todd — Yea
Green, W. Chad — Yea
H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr. — Yea
Higgins, Geary — Yea
Holly M. Seibold — Yea
Irene Shin — Yea
Israel D. O'Quinn — Yea
Jackie H. Glass — Yea
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Yea
James W. Morefield — Yea
Jason S. Ballard — Yea
Jeion A. Ward — Yea
Joseph P. McNamara — Yea
Joshua E. Thomas — Yea
Joshua G. Cole — Yea
Kannan Srinivasan — Yea
Karen Keys-Gamarra — Yea
Karrie K. Delaney — Yea
Kathy K.L. Tran — Yea
Katrina Callsen — Yea
Kent, Hillary Pugh — Yea
Knight, Barry D. — Yea
Laura Jane Cohen — Yea
LeVere Bolling, Destiny — Yea
Lovejoy, Ian T. — Yea
Luke E. Torian — Yea
M. Keith Hodges — Yea
Maldonado, Michelle Lopes — Yea
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Marshall, Daniel W., III — Yea
Marty Martinez — Yea
Michael B. Feggans — Yea
Michael J. Jones — Yea
Michael J. Webert — Yea
Mike A. Cherry — Yea
Milde, Paul V. — Yea
Mundon King, Candi — Yea
Nadarius E. Clark — Yea
Obenshain, Chris — Yea
Orrock, Robert D., Sr. — Yea
Owen, David — Yea
Patrick A. Hope — Yea
Paul E. Krizek — Yea
Phil M. Hernandez — Yea
Phillip A. Scott — Yea
R. Lee Ware — Yea
Rae Cousins — Yea
Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — Yea
Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. — Yea
Rodney T. Willett — Yea
Rozia A. Henson, Jr. — Yea
Sam Rasoul — Yea
Scott A. Wyatt — Yea
Shelly A. Simonds — Yea
Sickles, Mark D. — Yea
Taylor, Kim A. — Yea
Terry G. Kilgore — Yea
Terry L. Austin — Yea
Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. — Yea
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. — Yea
Timothy P. Griffin — Yea
Tony O. Wilt — Yea
Vivian E. Watts — Yea
Wendell S. Walker — Yea
Will Davis — Yea
Wren M. Williams — Yea

Official roll call →

Reported from Education (21-Y 0-N)

Passed 21 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 21001
Total 21001
% of votes cast 95%0%0%5%
How each member voted (22)
Member Party Vote
Alex Q. Askew — Yea
Amy J. Laufer — Yea
Anne Ferrell Tata — Yea
Atoosa R. Reaser — Yea
Batten, Amanda E. — Yea
Briana D. Sewell — Yea
Convirs-Fowler, Kelly K. — Not Voting
Coyner, Carrie E. — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Ennis, N. Baxter — Yea
Eric R. Zehr — Yea
Freitas, Nicholas J. — Yea
Green, W. Chad — Yea
Laura Jane Cohen — Yea
LeVere Bolling, Destiny — Yea
Mike A. Cherry — Yea
Nadarius E. Clark — Yea
Phillip A. Scott — Yea
Rae Cousins — Yea
Sam Rasoul — Yea
Shelly A. Simonds — Yea
Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. — Yea

Official roll call →

Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 0-N)

Passed 39 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 39001
Total 39001
% of votes cast 98%0%0%3%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Aaron R. Rouse — Yea
Angelia Williams Graves — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Yea
Bryce E. Reeves — Yea
Carroll Foy, Jennifer D. — Yea
Christie New Craig — Yea
Christopher T. Head — Yea
Danica A. Roem — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Ebbin, Adam P. — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Yea
Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. — Yea
Hashmi, Ghazala F. — Yea
J.D. "Danny" Diggs — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Yea
Mark J. Peake — Yea
McGuire, John J., III — Yea
R. Creigh Deeds — Not Voting
Richard H. Stuart — Yea
Russet Perry — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Yea
Saddam Azlan Salim — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Stella G. Pekarsky — Yea
Subramanyam, Suhas — Yea
T. Travis Hackworth — Yea
Tammy Brankley Mulchi — Yea
Tara A. Durant — Yea
Timmy French — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Yea
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Yea

Official roll call →

Constitutional reading dispensed (37-Y 0-N)

Passed 37 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 37003
Total 37003
% of votes cast 93%0%0%8%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Aaron R. Rouse — Yea
Angelia Williams Graves — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Yea
Bryce E. Reeves — Yea
Carroll Foy, Jennifer D. — Yea
Christie New Craig — Yea
Christopher T. Head — Not Voting
Danica A. Roem — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Ebbin, Adam P. — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Yea
Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. — Yea
Hashmi, Ghazala F. — Yea
J.D. "Danny" Diggs — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Not Voting
Mark J. Peake — Yea
McGuire, John J., III — Yea
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Yea
Russet Perry — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Yea
Saddam Azlan Salim — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Stella G. Pekarsky — Yea
Subramanyam, Suhas — Yea
T. Travis Hackworth — Not Voting
Tammy Brankley Mulchi — Yea
Tara A. Durant — Yea
Timmy French — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Yea
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Yea

Official roll call →

Reported from Education and Health with substitute (15-Y 0-N)

Passed 15 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 15000
Total 15000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Christie New Craig — Yea
Christopher T. Head — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
Hashmi, Ghazala F. — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark J. Peake — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Stella G. Pekarsky — Yea
Tara A. Durant — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

civil-rights education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 46 do?
Public institutions of higher education; admissions applications; legacy admissions and admissions based on donor status prohibited. Prohibits any public institution of higher education from providing any manner of preferential treatment in the admissions decision to any student applicant on the basis of such student's legacy status, defined in the bill, or such student's familial relationship to any donor to such institution. This bill incorporates SB 71 and is identical to HB 48.
Who sponsors SB 46?
SB 46 is sponsored by Schuyler T. VanValkenburg and Aaron R. Rouse.
What is the current status of SB 46?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced December 21, 2023. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 46?
Track SB 46 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on SB 46

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of SB 46

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →