Virginia 2026 Session Status: Enacted

SB491 — Public schools; right to free public elementary and secondary education, discrimination, etc.

Last action — Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0681)

  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 13, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin (Republican) on March 31, 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

Advancing 54% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Mixed recorded votes

    10 passed, 1 failed in 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

Public schools; right to free public elementary and secondary education, discrimination, etc.

Bill Text

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

Read SB491 on the official Virginia source →

Action History

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0681)

  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 681 (effective 7/1/2026)

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

  4. S Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  5. H Signed by Speaker

  6. S Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB491)

  7. S Signed by President

  8. S Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB491ER)

  9. S Enrolled

  10. H Conference report agreed to by House (64-Y 31-N 0-A)

  11. S Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

  12. Conference Report released

  13. S Conference substitute printed 26109735D-S3

  14. H House Conferees: Rasoul, Cousins, Runion

  15. H Conferees appointed by House

  16. S Senate Conferees: Pekarsky, Favola, Craig

  17. S Conferees appointed by Senate

  18. S Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  19. H House requested conference committee

  20. H House insisted on substitute

  21. S House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)

  22. H Passed House with substitute (63-Y 34-N 0-A)

  23. H Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  24. H committee substitute agreed to

  25. H Read third time

  26. H Read second time

  27. S Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB491)

  28. H Committee substitute printed 26108808D-H1

  29. H Reported from Education with substitute (14-Y 7-N)

  30. H Placed on Education Agenda

  31. H House subcommittee offered

  32. H Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N)

  33. H Placed on Education Agenda

  34. H Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee

  35. H Referred to Committee on Education

  36. H Read first time

  37. H Placed on Calendar

  38. S Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

  39. S Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)

  40. S Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)

  41. S Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote)

  42. S Read second time

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

  44. S Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  45. S Rules suspended

  46. S Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB491)

  47. S Committee substitute printed 26107531D-S2

  48. S Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (10-Y 5-N)

  49. S Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB491)

  50. S Committee substitute printed 26106599D-S1

  51. S Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

  52. S Reported from Education and Health with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N)

  53. S Senate committee offered

  54. S Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB491)

  55. S Senate subcommittee offered

  56. S Assigned Education sub: Public Education

  57. S Referred to Committee on Education and Health

  58. S Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104918D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 147 not signed on · 73 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

Conference report agreed to by House

Passed 64 Yea · 31 Nay · 4 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 643104
Total 643104
% of votes cast 65%31%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 — Nay
Atoosa R. Reaser — Yea
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
Bill Wiley — Nay
Bonita G. Anthony — Yea
Briana D. Sewell — Yea
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Yea
Charlie Schmidt — Yea
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
Chris S. Runion — Nay
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
David A. Reid — Yea
Debra D. Gardner — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Delores Oates — Nay
Destiny LeVere Bolling — Yea
Don Scott — Yea
Elizabeth R. Guzman — Yea
Ellen H. McLaughlin — Nay
Eric Phillips — Nay
Eric R. Zehr — Nay
Garrett McGuire — Yea
Gretchen M. Bulova — Yea
H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr. — Nay
Hillary Pugh Kent — Nay
Holly M. Seibold — Yea
Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr. — Not Voting
Irene Shin — Yea
Israel D. O'Quinn — Nay
JJ Singh — Yea
Jackie H. Glass — Yea
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Nay
James W. Morefield — Nay
Jason S. Ballard — Nay
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 — Nay
Karen Hamilton — Nay
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 — Yea
Leslie Chambers Mehta — Yea
Lily V. Franklin — Yea
Lindsey Dougherty — Yea
Luke E. Torian — Yea
M. Keith Hodges — Nay
Madison Whittle — Nay
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 — Nay
Michelle Lopes Maldonado — Yea
Mike A. Cherry — Nay
Mitchell Cornett — Nay
Nadarius E. Clark — Not Voting
Nicole Cole — Yea
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
Stacey Annie Carroll — Not Voting
Terry G. Kilgore — Nay
Terry L. Austin — Nay
Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. — Nay
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. — Not Voting
Timothy P. Griffin — Nay
Tony O. Wilt — Nay
Virgil Thornton — Yea
Vivian E. Watts — Yea
Wendell S. Walker — Nay
Will Davis — Nay
Wren M. Williams — Nay

Official roll call →

Conference report agreed to by Senate

Passed 21 Yea · 18 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 211801
Total 211801
% of votes cast 53%45%0%3%
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
Christie New Craig — Nay
Christopher T. Head — Nay
Danica A. Roem — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Nay
David W. Marsden — Yea
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Nay
Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. — Nay
J.D. "Danny" Diggs — Nay
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 — Nay
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Nay
Mark J. Peake — Nay
Michael J. Jones — Yea
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
T. Travis Hackworth — Nay
Tammy Brankley Mulchi — Not Voting
Tara A. Durant — Nay
Timmy French — Nay
Todd E. Pillion — Nay
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Nay

Official roll call →

Senate acceded to request 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 →

House substitute rejected by Senate

Failed 0 Yea · 40 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 04000
Total 04000
% of votes cast 0%100%0%0%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Aaron R. Rouse — Nay
Angelia Williams Graves — Nay
Barbara A. Favola — Nay
Bill DeSteph — Nay
Bryce E. Reeves — Nay
Christie New Craig — Nay
Christopher T. Head — Nay
Danica A. Roem — Nay
David R. Suetterlein — Nay
David W. Marsden — Nay
Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker — Nay
Emily M. Jordan — Nay
Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. — Nay
J.D. "Danny" Diggs — Nay
Jennifer B. Boysko — Nay
Jennifer D. Carroll Foy — Nay
Jeremy S. McPike — Nay
Kannan Srinivasan — Nay
L. Louise Lucas — Nay
Lamont Bagby — Nay
Lashrecse D. Aird — Nay
Luther Cifers, III — Nay
Mamie E. Locke — Nay
Mark D. Obenshain — Nay
Mark J. Peake — Nay
Michael J. Jones — Nay
R. Creigh Deeds — Nay
Richard H. Stuart — Nay
Russet Perry — Nay
Ryan T. McDougle — Nay
Saddam Azlan Salim — Nay
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Nay
Scott A. Surovell — Nay
Stella G. Pekarsky — Nay
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 →

Passed House with substitute

Passed 63 Yea · 34 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 633402
Total 633402
% of votes cast 64%34%0%2%
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
Atoosa R. Reaser — Yea
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
Bill Wiley — Nay
Bonita G. Anthony — Yea
Briana D. Sewell — Yea
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Yea
Charlie Schmidt — Yea
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
Chris S. Runion — Nay
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
David A. Reid — Yea
Debra D. Gardner — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Delores Oates — Nay
Destiny LeVere Bolling — Yea
Don Scott — Yea
Elizabeth R. Guzman — Yea
Ellen H. McLaughlin — Nay
Eric Phillips — Nay
Eric R. Zehr — Nay
Garrett McGuire — Yea
Gretchen M. Bulova — Yea
H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr. — Nay
Hillary Pugh Kent — Nay
Holly M. Seibold — Yea
Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr. — Nay
Irene Shin — Yea
Israel D. O'Quinn — Nay
JJ Singh — Yea
Jackie H. Glass — Yea
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Nay
James W. Morefield — Nay
Jason S. Ballard — Nay
Jeion A. Ward — Yea
Jessica L. Anderson — Yea
John Chilton McAuliff — Yea
Joseph P. McNamara — Nay
Joshua E. Thomas — Yea
Joshua G. Cole — Yea
Justin Pence — Nay
Karen Hamilton — Nay
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 — Yea
Leslie Chambers Mehta — Yea
Lily V. Franklin — Yea
Lindsey Dougherty — Yea
Luke E. Torian — Yea
M. Keith Hodges — Nay
Madison Whittle — Nay
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 — Nay
Michelle Lopes Maldonado — Yea
Mike A. Cherry — Nay
Mitchell Cornett — Nay
Nadarius E. Clark — Yea
Nicole Cole — Yea
Patrick A. Hope — Not Voting
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. — Not Voting
Sam Rasoul — Yea
Scott A. Wyatt — Nay
Shelly A. Simonds — Yea
Stacey Annie Carroll — Yea
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
Virgil Thornton — Yea
Vivian E. Watts — Yea
Wendell S. Walker — Nay
Will Davis — Nay
Wren M. Williams — Nay

Official roll call →

Reported from Education with substitute

Passed 14 Yea · 7 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 14701
Total 14701
% of votes cast 64%32%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
Briana D. Sewell — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Destiny LeVere Bolling — Yea
Elizabeth R. Guzman — Yea
Eric R. Zehr — Nay
Gretchen M. Bulova — Yea
Hillary Pugh Kent — Nay
Jessica L. Anderson — Yea
Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler — Yea
Lindsey Dougherty — Yea
Madison Whittle — Nay
Mike A. Cherry — Nay
Nadarius E. Clark — Yea
Phillip A. Scott — Nay
Rae Cousins — Yea
Sam Rasoul — Yea
Shelly A. Simonds — Not Voting
Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. — Nay

Official roll call →

Read third time and passed Senate

Passed 21 Yea · 18 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 211801
Total 211801
% of votes cast 53%45%0%3%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Aaron R. Rouse — Yea
Adam P. Ebbin — Yea
Angelia Williams Graves — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Nay
Bryce E. Reeves — Nay
Christie New Craig — Nay
Christopher T. Head — Nay
Danica A. Roem — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Nay
David W. Marsden — Yea
Emily M. Jordan — Nay
Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. — Nay
J.D. "Danny" Diggs — Nay
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 — Nay
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Nay
Mark J. Peake — Nay
Michael J. Jones — Yea
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
T. Travis Hackworth — Nay
Tammy Brankley Mulchi — Nay
Tara A. Durant — Nay
Timmy French — Not Voting
Todd E. Pillion — Nay
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Nay

Official roll call →

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

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
Adam P. Ebbin — 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
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 →

Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute

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
Aaron R. Rouse — Yea
Adam P. Ebbin — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bryce E. Reeves — Nay
David W. Marsden — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Nay
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Nay
Ryan T. McDougle — Nay
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Nay

Official roll call →

Reported from Education and Health with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

Passed 9 Yea · 6 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 9600
Total 9600
% of votes cast 60%40%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 — Nay
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark J. Peake — Nay
Russet Perry — Yea
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 SB491 do?
Public schools; right to free public elementary and secondary education, discrimination, etc.
Who sponsors SB491?
SB491 is sponsored by Stella G. Pekarsky.
What is the current status of SB491?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 13, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track SB491?
Track SB491 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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