Virginia 2026 Session Status: Enacted

HB653 — Excused student absences; visitation of immediate family members on active duty military, etc.

Last action — Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0193)

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

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 13, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin (Republican) on March 12, 2026.

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 70% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 7 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

Excused student absences; visitation of immediate family members on active duty military, etc.

Bill Text

We don't have the full text on file for this bill yet.

Read HB653 on the official Virginia source →

Action History

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0193)

  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 193 (effective 7/1/2026)

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

  4. H Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

  5. H Signed by Speaker

  6. S Signed by President

  7. H Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB653)

  8. H Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB653ER)

  9. H Enrolled

  10. H Senate amendment agreed to by House (95-Y 0-N 0-A)

  11. S Passed Senate with amendment Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  12. S Engrossed by Senate as amended

  13. S Committee amendment agreed to (Voice Vote)

  14. S Read third time

  15. S Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  16. S Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)

  17. S Rules suspended

  18. S Reported from Education and Health with amendment (15-Y 0-N)

  19. S Senate committee offered

  20. S Assigned Education sub: Public Education

  21. S Referred to Committee on Education and Health

  22. S Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  23. H Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB653)

  24. H Read third time and passed House (94-Y 2-N 0-A)

  25. H Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  26. H committee substitute agreed to

  27. H Read second time

  28. H Read first time

  29. H Committee substitute printed 26106668D-H1

  30. H Reported from Education with substitute (21-Y 1-N)

  31. H Reported from Education with substitute (13-Y 2-N)

  32. H House committee offered

  33. H Placed on Education Agenda

  34. H Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB653)

  35. H Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (8-Y 2-N)

  36. H House subcommittee offered

  37. H Placed on Education Agenda

  38. H Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee

  39. H Referred to Committee on Education

  40. H Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104899D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 147 not signed on · 4 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (147)

147 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 147 →

"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

Senate amendment agreed to by House

Passed 95 Yea · 0 Nay · 4 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 95004
Total 95004
% of votes cast 96%0%0%4%
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
Atoosa R. Reaser — Yea
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
Bill Wiley — Yea
Bonita G. Anthony — Yea
Briana D. Sewell — Yea
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Yea
Charlie Schmidt — Yea
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
Chris S. Runion — Yea
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
David A. Reid — Yea
Debra D. Gardner — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Delores Oates — Yea
Destiny LeVere Bolling — Yea
Don Scott — Yea
Elizabeth R. Guzman — Yea
Ellen H. McLaughlin — Yea
Eric Phillips — Yea
Eric R. Zehr — Yea
Garrett McGuire — Yea
Gretchen M. Bulova — Yea
H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr. — Yea
Hillary Pugh Kent — Yea
Holly M. Seibold — Yea
Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr. — Yea
Irene Shin — Yea
Israel D. O'Quinn — Yea
JJ Singh — Yea
Jackie H. Glass — Yea
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Yea
James W. Morefield — Yea
Jason S. Ballard — Yea
Jeion A. Ward — Yea
Jessica L. Anderson — Yea
John Chilton McAuliff — Yea
Joseph P. McNamara — Yea
Joshua E. Thomas — Yea
Joshua G. Cole — Yea
Justin Pence — Yea
Karen Hamilton — Yea
Karen Keys-Gamarra — Yea
Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie — Yea
Karrie K. Delaney — Yea
Kathy K.L. Tran — Yea
Katrina Callsen — Yea
Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler — Yea
Kimberly Pope Adams — Yea
Kirk McPike — Yea
Laura Jane Cohen — Not Voting
Leslie Chambers Mehta — Yea
Lily V. Franklin — Yea
Lindsey Dougherty — Yea
Luke E. Torian — Yea
M. Keith Hodges — Yea
Madison Whittle — Yea
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Margaret A. Franklin — Yea
Mark C. Downey — Yea
Marty Martinez — Not Voting
May Nivar — Yea
Michael B. Feggans — Yea
Michael J. Webert — Yea
Michelle Lopes Maldonado — Yea
Mike A. Cherry — Yea
Mitchell Cornett — Yea
Nadarius E. Clark — Yea
Nicole Cole — 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
Stacey Annie Carroll — Yea
Terry G. Kilgore — Yea
Terry L. Austin — Yea
Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. — Not Voting
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. — Not Voting
Timothy P. Griffin — Yea
Tony O. Wilt — Yea
Virgil Thornton — Yea
Vivian E. Watts — Yea
Wendell S. Walker — Yea
Will Davis — Yea
Wren M. Williams — Yea

Official roll call →

Passed Senate with amendment Block Vote

Passed 40 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 40000
Total 40000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
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
Christie New Craig — Yea
Christopher T. Head — Yea
Danica A. Roem — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Yea
Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. — Yea
J.D. "Danny" Diggs — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jennifer D. Carroll Foy — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
Kannan Srinivasan — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Luther Cifers, III — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Yea
Mark J. Peake — Yea
Michael J. Jones — 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
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 Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

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
Christie New Craig — Yea
Christopher T. Head — Yea
Danica A. Roem — Not Voting
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Yea
Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. — Yea
J.D. "Danny" Diggs — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jennifer D. Carroll Foy — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
Kannan Srinivasan — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Luther Cifers, III — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Yea
Mark J. Peake — Yea
Michael J. Jones — 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 — Not Voting
T. Travis Hackworth — Yea
Tammy Brankley Mulchi — Yea
Tara A. Durant — Not Voting
Timmy French — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Yea
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Yea

Official roll call →

Reported from Education and Health with amendment

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
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark J. Peake — Yea
Russet Perry — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Stella G. Pekarsky — Yea
Tara A. Durant — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Yea

Official roll call →

Read third time and passed House

Passed 94 Yea · 2 Nay · 4 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 94204
Total 94204
% of votes cast 94%2%0%4%
How each member voted (100)
Member Party Vote
Adele Y. McClure — Yea
Alex Q. Askew — Yea
Alfonso H. Lopez — Yea
Amy J. Laufer — Yea
Anne Ferrell Tata — Not Voting
Atoosa R. Reaser — Yea
Barry D. Knight — Not Voting
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
Bill Wiley — Yea
Bonita G. Anthony — Yea
Briana D. Sewell — Nay
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Yea
Charlie Schmidt — Yea
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
Chris S. Runion — Yea
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
David A. Reid — Yea
Debra D. Gardner — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Delores Oates — Yea
Destiny LeVere Bolling — Yea
Don Scott — Yea
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Yea
Elizabeth R. Guzman — Yea
Ellen H. McLaughlin — Yea
Eric Phillips — Yea
Eric R. Zehr — Yea
Garrett McGuire — Yea
Gretchen M. Bulova — Yea
H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr. — Yea
Hillary Pugh Kent — Yea
Holly M. Seibold — Yea
Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr. — Yea
Irene Shin — Yea
Israel D. O'Quinn — Yea
JJ Singh — Yea
Jackie H. Glass — Nay
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Yea
James W. Morefield — Yea
Jason S. Ballard — Yea
Jeion A. Ward — Yea
Jessica L. Anderson — Yea
John Chilton McAuliff — Yea
Joseph P. McNamara — Yea
Joshua E. Thomas — Yea
Joshua G. Cole — Yea
Justin Pence — Yea
Karen Hamilton — Yea
Karen Keys-Gamarra — Not Voting
Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie — Yea
Karrie K. Delaney — Yea
Kathy K.L. Tran — Yea
Katrina Callsen — Yea
Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler — Not Voting
Kimberly Pope Adams — Yea
Laura Jane Cohen — Yea
Leslie Chambers Mehta — Yea
Lily V. Franklin — Yea
Lindsey Dougherty — Yea
Luke E. Torian — Yea
M. Keith Hodges — Yea
Madison Whittle — Yea
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Margaret A. Franklin — Yea
Mark C. Downey — Yea
Marty Martinez — Yea
May Nivar — Yea
Michael B. Feggans — Yea
Michael J. Webert — Yea
Michelle Lopes Maldonado — Yea
Mike A. Cherry — Yea
Mitchell Cornett — Yea
Nadarius E. Clark — Yea
Nicole Cole — 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
Stacey Annie Carroll — 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
Virgil Thornton — Yea
Vivian E. Watts — Yea
Wendell S. Walker — Yea
Will Davis — Yea
Wren M. Williams — Yea

Official roll call →

Reported from Education with substitute

Passed 21 Yea · 1 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 21100
Total 21100
% of votes cast 95%5%0%0%
How each member voted (22)
Member Party Vote
Alex Q. Askew — Yea
Amy J. Laufer — Yea
Anne Ferrell Tata — Yea
Atoosa R. Reaser — Yea
Briana D. Sewell — Nay
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Destiny LeVere Bolling — Yea
Elizabeth R. Guzman — Yea
Eric R. Zehr — Yea
Gretchen M. Bulova — Yea
Hillary Pugh Kent — Yea
Jessica L. Anderson — Yea
Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler — Yea
Lindsey Dougherty — Yea
Madison Whittle — 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 →

Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s)

Passed 8 Yea · 2 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 8200
Total 8200
% of votes cast 80%20%0%0%
How each member voted (10)
Member Party Vote
Alex Q. Askew — Nay
Anne Ferrell Tata — Yea
Destiny LeVere Bolling — Nay
Gretchen M. Bulova — Yea
Hillary Pugh Kent — Yea
Jessica L. Anderson — Yea
Lindsey Dougherty — Yea
Mike A. Cherry — Yea
Rae Cousins — Yea
Shelly A. Simonds — Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

veterans 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 HB653 do?
Excused student absences; visitation of immediate family members on active duty military, etc.
Who sponsors HB653?
HB653 is sponsored by Hillary Pugh Kent.
What is the current status of HB653?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 13, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track HB653?
Track HB653 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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