HB 263 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Certified school library specialists; Superintendent of Public Instruction to employ in DOE.

Summary
Superintendent of Public Instruction; employment of certified school library specialists. Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to employ in the Department of Education at least one certified school library specialist who shall have several duties enumerated in the bill, including (i) providing leadership and technical assistance with the implementation and use of information literacy skills to school divisions, Department staff, and other stakeholders to support student achievement; (ii) directing the implementation of state and national school library standards and consulting with and providing technical assistance to local school divisions relating to such standards; (iii) collaborating on various grants and other initiatives that promote student literacy through school library programs throughout the Commonwealth; (iv) supporting student learning through instructional programs in which students are required to demonstrate information literacy, digital literacy and fluency, and effective use of technology and instructional programs that incorporate science, technology, engineering, and math learning; and (v) providing the Department, the Board of Education, the General Assembly, and school boards with support relating to student learning through the use of school library standards and library resources.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 9, 2026 Last action Feb 19, 2026
Floor votes · House of Delegates Feb 6, 2026

How they voted

6222
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 88
Feb 6, 2026
D Democratic53
51 Yea 2
96% Yea
R Republican35
11 Yea 22 Nay 2
62% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
5
Committee
8
Feb 9, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
upper
Feb 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (74-Y 22-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)
lower
Jan 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 0-N)
lower
Jan 28, 2026
Committee
Assigned HAPP sub: Elementary & Secondary Education
lower
Jan 28, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Education and referred to Appropriations (17-Y 4-N)
lower
Jan 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations (9-Y 1-N)
lower
Jan 23, 2026
Committee
Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee
lower
Jan 9, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Education
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors