HB 265 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Students, certain; grants at public institutions of higher education, qualifications.

Summary
Grants for certain students at public institutions of higher education; qualifications. Removes the requirement for each public institution of higher education to provide a grant for the payment of tuition, certain mandatory education and general fees, and, at baccalaureate institutions, room and board, for any Virginia student who was considered a special needs adoption at any time after he turned 14. The bill also clarifies that only a Virginia student who has received a high school diploma or has passed a high school equivalency examination approved by the Board of Education and who was in foster care in the Commonwealth after he turned 14 or who was in foster care in the Commonwealth when he turned 18 and subsequently received a high school diploma or passed a high school equivalency examination approved by the Board of Education is eligible for such a grant. Current law that governs such grant eligibility is silent on the location of such foster care placement.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 9, 2026 Last action Feb 18, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
6
Key actions
1
Committee
3
Feb 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (8-Y 2-N)
lower
Jan 30, 2026
Committee
Assigned HED sub: Higher Education
lower
Jan 9, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Education
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Anne Ferrell Tata
Anne Ferrell Tata
RRepublican
VA
99