HB 1486 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Public schools; student instruction; addictive potential of time spent using certain electr. device.

Summary

Public schools; student instruction; addictive potential of time spent using certain electronic devices. Requires instruction concerning time spent using electronic devices such as computers, cell phones, and other smart devices and the addictive potential thereof to be provided by the public schools as prescribed by the Board of Education. This bill is identical to SB 568.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Signed Apr 6, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled → Chaptered · 3 edits

MINOR

This document represents the final 'Chaptered' version of HB 1486, which was approved on April 6, 2026. The primary change is the conversion of the bill from an 'Enrolled' draft into official law, adding the chapter number (318) and the specific approval date. The substantive policy text regarding school instruction on screen time and other hazards remains unchanged from the previous version.

TECHNICAL

Added official chapter number (318) and the specific approval date (April 6, 2026) to finalize the bill as law.

Removed the 'Enrolled' session header and replaced it with the 'Acts of Assembly' header to reflect its status as enacted legislation.

Adjusted line breaks and spacing to conform to the official layout of the Virginia Code.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 27, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2026

How they voted

36–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 39

Feb 27, 2026

D Democratic20

18 Yea 2

90% Yea

R Republican19

18 Yea 1

94% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 6, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor-Chapter 318 (effective 7/1/2026)

executive

Mar 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Signed by President

upper

Mar 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Signed by Speaker

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1486ER)

lower

Mar 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

upper

Feb 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Committee

Assigned Education sub: Public Education

upper

Feb 11, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Education and Health

upper

Feb 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time and passed House (94-Y 4-N 0-A)

lower

Feb 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Education (19-Y 2-N)

lower

Feb 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)

lower

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee

lower

Jan 23, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Education

lower

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Presented and ordered printed 26104410D

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor