Virginia 2024 Regular Session Status: Enacted

SB 235 — Sexually explicit content; policies on parental notification of instructional material.

Last action — Requires 2/3 members present

  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 January 09, 2024. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin (Republican) on February 24, 2024.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 72% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    1 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 6 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Policies on parental notification of instructional material that includes sexually explicit content; scope and use. Provides that nothing in the law requiring the Department of Education to develop and make available to each school board model policies for ensuring parental notification of any instructional material that includes sexually explicit content and requiring each school board to adopt policies that are consistent with but may be more comprehensive than such model policies or that is in such model policies or school board policies shall be construed to permit the censoring of books in any public elementary or secondary school. This bill is identical to HB 571.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

22 added · 30 removed

Plain-language change summary

The revised version of SB 235 maintains the requirement for schools to notify parents about instructional materials that include sexually explicit content, but now emphasizes the development of model policies that help ensure this notification is clear and effective. Importantly, the updated bill removes the need for school boards to identify specific materials or subjects, focusing instead on general notification procedures. This change could make it easier for schools to comply, but may also raise concerns among parents about the specificity of information provided. Ultimately, these amendments aim to enhance parental oversight while ensuring educational resources remain available.

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Latest
SESSION INTRODUCED 24104437D SENATE BILL NO.
SESSION ENROLLED VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY –– CHAPTER E An Act to amend and reenact § 22.1-16.8 of the Code of Virginia, relating to policies on parental notification of instructional material that includes sexually explicit content;
235 I Offered January 10, 2024 N Prefiled January 9, 2024 T A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-16.8 of the Code of Virginia, relating to policies on parental notification of instructional material that includes sexually explicit content;
Patrons––Hashmi and Boysko O –––––––––– D Referred to Committee on Education and Health –––––––––– U Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
O [S 235] Approved L Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
C 1.
L 1.
§ 22.1-16.8.
That § 22.1-16.8 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
E § 22.1-16.8.
E A.
A.
As used in this section, "sexually explicit content" has the same meaning as provided in subsection A of § 2.2-2827.
As used in this section, "sexually explicit content" has the same meaning as provided in D subB.
D B.
The Department shall develop and make available to each school board model policies for ensuring parental notification of any instructional material that includes sexually explicit content and include information, guidance, procedures, and standards relating to:
The Department shall develop and make available to each school board model policies for ensuring parental notification of any instructional material that includes sexually explicit content and inc1.
1.
Ensuring parental notification;ures, and standards relating to:
Ensuring parental notification;
2.
3.
Directly identifying the specific instructional material and sexually explicit subjects;
Permitting the parent of any student to review instructional material that includes sexuaSly explicit content and provide, as an alternative, nonexplicit instructional material and related academic activities to any student whose parent so requests.
and 3.
5 C.
Permitting the parent of any student to review instructional material that includes sexually explicit content and provide, as an alternative, nonexplicit instructional material and related academic activities to any student whose parent so requests.
Each school board shall adopt policies that are consistent with but may be more comprehenRive section, any model policy or amendments thereto adopted by the Department pursuant to subsection B,his or any policy or amendments thereto adopted by a school board pursuant to this subsection shall be construed to permit the censoring of books in any public elementary or secondary school.
B than the model policies developed by the Department pursuant to subsection B.
However, nothing in this section, any model policy or amendments thereto adopted by the Department pursuant to subsection B, or any policy or amendments thereto adopted by a school board pursuant to this subsection shall be construed to permit the censoring of books in any public elementary or secondary school.
/ 3
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Action History

  1. Requires 2/3 members present

  2. Passed in enrolled form rejected (22-Y 18-N)

  3. Passed by for the day

  4. Vetoed by Governor

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

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

  7. Signed by President

  8. Impact statement from DPB (SB235ER)

  9. Signed by Speaker

  10. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB235ER)

  11. Enrolled

  12. VOTE: Passage (53-Y 46-N)

  13. Passed House (53-Y 46-N)

  14. Read third time

  15. Read second time

  16. Reported from Education (12-Y 9-N)

  17. House committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered

  18. House committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered

  19. Referred to Committee on Education

  20. Read first time

  21. Placed on Calendar

  22. Read third time and passed Senate (22-Y 18-N)

  23. Read second time and engrossed

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

  25. Reported from Education and Health (10-Y 5-N)

  26. Assigned Education and Health Sub: Public Education

  27. Impact statement from DPB (SB235)

  28. Referred to Committee on Education and Health

  29. Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104437D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 146 not signed on · 64 voted No

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

Passed in enrolled form rejected (22-Y 18-N)

Passed 22 Yea · 18 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 221800
Total 221800
% of votes cast 55%45%0%0%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Aaron R. Rouse — Yea
Angelia Williams Graves — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Nay
Bryce E. Reeves — Nay
Carroll Foy, Jennifer D. — Yea
Christie New Craig — Nay
Christopher T. Head — Nay
Danica A. Roem — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Ebbin, Adam P. — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Nay
Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. — Nay
Hashmi, Ghazala F. — Yea
J.D. "Danny" Diggs — Nay
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 — Nay
Mark J. Peake — Nay
McGuire, John J., III — Nay
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Nay
Russet Perry — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Nay
Saddam Azlan Salim — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Stella G. Pekarsky — Yea
Subramanyam, Suhas — Yea
T. Travis Hackworth — Nay
Tammy Brankley Mulchi — Nay
Tara A. Durant — Nay
Timmy French — Nay
Todd E. Pillion — Nay
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Nay

Official roll call →

VOTE: Passage (53-Y 46-N)

Passed 52 Yea · 46 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 524601
Total 524601
% of votes cast 53%46%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 — Nay
Arnold, Jonathan, E. P. — Nay
Atoosa R. Reaser — Yea
Batten, Amanda E. — Nay
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
Bill Wiley — Nay
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 — Nay
Convirs-Fowler, Kelly K. — Yea
Cordoza, A.C. — Nay
Coyner, Carrie E. — Yea
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
David A. Reid — Yea
Debra D. Gardner — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Delores Oates — Nay
Earley, Mark L., Jr. — Nay
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Yea
Ellen H. McLaughlin — Nay
Ennis, N. Baxter — Nay
Eric Phillips — Nay
Eric R. Zehr — Nay
Fowler, Hyland F."Buddy," Jr. — Nay
Freitas, Nicholas J. — Nay
Gilbert, C. Todd — Nay
Green, W. Chad — Nay
H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr. — Nay
Higgins, Geary — Nay
Holly M. Seibold — Yea
Irene Shin — Yea
Israel D. O'Quinn — Nay
Jackie H. Glass — Yea
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Nay
James W. Morefield — Nay
Jason S. Ballard — Nay
Jeion A. Ward — Yea
Joseph P. McNamara — Not Voting
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 — Nay
Knight, Barry D. — Nay
Laura Jane Cohen — Yea
LeVere Bolling, Destiny — Yea
Lovejoy, Ian T. — Nay
Luke E. Torian — Yea
M. Keith Hodges — Nay
Maldonado, Michelle Lopes — Yea
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Marshall, Daniel W., III — Nay
Marty Martinez — Yea
Michael B. Feggans — Yea
Michael J. Jones — Yea
Michael J. Webert — Nay
Mike A. Cherry — Nay
Milde, Paul V. — Nay
Mundon King, Candi — Yea
Nadarius E. Clark — Yea
Obenshain, Chris — Nay
Orrock, Robert D., Sr. — Nay
Owen, David — Nay
Patrick A. Hope — Yea
Paul E. Krizek — Yea
Phil M. Hernandez — Yea
Phillip A. Scott — Nay
R. Lee Ware — Nay
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 — Nay
Shelly A. Simonds — Yea
Sickles, Mark D. — Yea
Taylor, Kim A. — Nay
Terry G. Kilgore — Nay
Terry L. Austin — Nay
Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. — Nay
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. — Nay
Timothy P. Griffin — Nay
Tony O. Wilt — Nay
Vivian E. Watts — Yea
Wendell S. Walker — Nay
Will Davis — Nay
Wren M. Williams — Nay

Official roll call →

Reported from Education (12-Y 9-N)

Passed 12 Yea · 9 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 12901
Total 12901
% of votes cast 55%41%0%5%
How each member voted (22)
Member Party Vote
Alex Q. Askew — Yea
Amy J. Laufer — Yea
Anne Ferrell Tata — Nay
Atoosa R. Reaser — Yea
Batten, Amanda E. — Nay
Briana D. Sewell — Yea
Convirs-Fowler, Kelly K. — Not Voting
Coyner, Carrie E. — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Ennis, N. Baxter — Nay
Eric R. Zehr — Nay
Freitas, Nicholas J. — Nay
Green, W. Chad — Nay
Laura Jane Cohen — Yea
LeVere Bolling, Destiny — Yea
Mike A. Cherry — Nay
Nadarius E. Clark — Yea
Phillip A. Scott — Nay
Rae Cousins — Yea
Sam Rasoul — Yea
Shelly A. Simonds — Yea
Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. — Nay

Official roll call →

Read third time and passed Senate (22-Y 18-N)

Passed 22 Yea · 18 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 221800
Total 221800
% of votes cast 55%45%0%0%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Aaron R. Rouse — Yea
Angelia Williams Graves — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Nay
Bryce E. Reeves — Nay
Carroll Foy, Jennifer D. — Yea
Christie New Craig — Nay
Christopher T. Head — Nay
Danica A. Roem — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Ebbin, Adam P. — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Nay
Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. — Nay
Hashmi, Ghazala F. — Yea
J.D. "Danny" Diggs — Nay
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 — Nay
Mark J. Peake — Nay
McGuire, John J., III — Nay
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Nay
Russet Perry — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Nay
Saddam Azlan Salim — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Stella G. Pekarsky — Yea
Subramanyam, Suhas — Yea
T. Travis Hackworth — Nay
Tammy Brankley Mulchi — Nay
Tara A. Durant — Nay
Timmy French — Nay
Todd E. Pillion — Nay
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Nay

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 — Not Voting
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 — 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 — Yea
Tammy Brankley Mulchi — Yea
Tara A. Durant — Yea
Timmy French — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Yea
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Not Voting

Official roll call →

Reported from Education and Health (10-Y 5-N)

Passed 10 Yea · 5 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 10500
Total 10500
% of votes cast 67%33%0%0%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Christie New Craig — Nay
Christopher T. Head — Nay
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 — Nay
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Stella G. Pekarsky — Yea
Tara A. Durant — Nay
Todd E. Pillion — Nay

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 235 do?
Policies on parental notification of instructional material that includes sexually explicit content; scope and use. Provides that nothing in the law requiring the Department of Education to develop and make available to each school board model policies for ensuring parental notification of any instructional material that includes sexually explicit content and requiring each school board to adopt policies that are consistent with but may be more comprehensive than such model policies or that is in such model policies or school board policies shall be construed to permit the censoring of books in any public elementary or secondary school. This bill is identical to HB 571.
Who sponsors SB 235?
SB 235 is sponsored by Jennifer B. Boysko and Ghazala F. Hashmi.
What is the current status of SB 235?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 09, 2024. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 235?
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