Virginia 2026 Session Status: Enacted

SB494 — Higher educational institutions, public; membership of governing boards.

Last action — Governor's Veto Received by Senate

  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.

In plain language

The bill concerns the membership of governing boards of public higher educational institutions.

This legislation addresses how governing boards for public higher educational institutions are constituted. The full details of the bill's requirements are not available for review.

Summary

Higher educational institutions, public; membership of governing boards.

Bill Text

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

Read SB494 on the official Virginia source →

Action History

  1. Vetoed by Governor

  2. S Governor's Veto Received by Senate

  3. S Governor's Veto Received by Senate

  4. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026

  5. S Communicated to Governor

  6. S Passed by for the day (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

  7. S Governor's substitute printed (SB494S3)

  8. Governor's Recommendation

  9. Governor's recommendation received by Senate

  10. S Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB494)

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

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

  13. H Signed by Speaker

  14. S Signed by President

  15. S Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB494ER)

  16. S Enrolled

  17. H Conference report agreed to by House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)

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

  19. Conference Report released

  20. H Passed by temporarily

  21. S Conference substitute printed 26110040D-S2

  22. H House Conferees: Franklin, L.V., Feggans, Austin

  23. H House Conferees: Franklin of Montgomery, Carr, Zehr

  24. H Conferees appointed by House

  25. S Senate Conferees: Deeds, Locke, Surovell, Pillion

  26. S Conferees appointed by Senate

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

  28. H House requested conference committee

  29. H House insisted on substitute

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

  31. H Passed House with substitute (61-Y 35-N 0-A)

  32. H Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  33. H committee substitute agreed to

  34. H Read third time

  35. H Read second time

  36. S Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB494)

  37. H Committee substitute printed 26108796D-H1

  38. H Reported from Education with substitute (15-Y 6-N)

  39. H Placed on Education Agenda

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

  41. H House subcommittee offered

  42. H Placed on Education Agenda

  43. H Assigned HED sub: Higher Education

  44. H Referred to Committee on Education

  45. H Read first time

  46. H Placed on Calendar

  47. S Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB494)

  48. S Read third time and passed Senate (22-Y 18-N 0-A)

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

  50. S Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)

  51. S Read second time

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

  53. S Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (36-Y 0-N 0-A)

  54. S Rules suspended

  55. S Committee substitute printed 26107584D-S1

  56. S Incorporates SB381 (Surovell)

  57. S Senate committee offered

  58. S Reported from Education and Health with substitute (12-Y 0-N 3-A)

  59. S Senate subcommittee offered

  60. S Senate subcommittee offered

  61. S Assigned Education sub: Higher Education

  62. S Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB494)

  63. S Referred to Committee on Education and Health

  64. S Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104667D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 147 not signed on · 74 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

Passed by for the day

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)

Official roll call →

Passed 62 Yea · 35 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 623502
Total 623502
% of votes cast 63%35%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 — 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. — Nay
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. — 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 →

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)

Official roll call →

Passed 40 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 40000
Total 40000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (40)

Official roll call →

Failed 0 Yea · 40 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 04000
Total 04000
% of votes cast 0%100%0%0%
How each member voted (40)

Official roll call →

Passed 61 Yea · 35 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 613503
Total 613503
% of votes cast 62%35%0%3%
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 — Not Voting
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. — Nay
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 →

Passed 15 Yea · 6 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 15601
Total 15601
% of votes cast 68%27%0%5%
How each member voted (22)

Official roll call →

Passed 7 Yea · 3 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 7300
Total 7300
% of votes cast 70%30%0%0%
How each member voted (10)

Official roll call →

Passed 22 Yea · 18 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 221800
Total 221800
% of votes cast 55%45%0%0%
How each member voted (40)

Official roll call →

Passed 36 Yea · 0 Nay · 4 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 36004
Total 36004
% of votes cast 90%0%0%10%
How each member voted (40)

Official roll call →

Passed 12 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 12003
Total 12003
% of votes cast 80%0%0%20%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Christie New Craig — Yea
Christopher T. Head — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Not Voting
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Not Voting
Lashrecse D. Aird — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark J. Peake — Not Voting
Russet Perry — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Stella G. Pekarsky — Yea
Tara A. Durant — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

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 SB494 do?
Higher educational institutions, public; membership of governing boards.
Who sponsors SB494?
SB494 is sponsored by R. Creigh Deeds.
What is the current status of SB494?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 13, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track SB494?
Track SB494 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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