HB 595 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Graduation with an advanced studies diploma; requirements, complet. of Int'l Baccalaureate diploma.

Summary
Board of Education; high school graduation; simultaneous completion of International Baccalaureate diploma and advanced studies diploma. Requires the Board of Education to permit any student who (i) during or after grade 10, transferred into a public high school in the Commonwealth and (ii) is simultaneously pursuing an advanced studies diploma and an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma to complete certain courses or sequences of courses required for an IB diploma, as approved by the Board, including substitutes for the Virginia and U.S. history and government courses and for the economics and personal finance credit requirement. The bill also directs the Board to grant a waiver from the training in emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the use of automated external defibrillators required for graduation to any student who (a) pursuant to his individualized education program or Section 504 Plan cannot successfully complete the training or (b) after grade 10, transfers from a school or other education program that does not require or give credit for such training. This bill incorporates HB 132 and is identical to SB 63.
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 13, 2026 Signed Apr 6, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

Education and Health Substitute Chaptered · 1 edit
MINOR
The bill was formally enacted and chaptered as Chapter 182 of the 2026 Session, converting the text from a Senate substitute draft into official law. The substantive policy content regarding graduation requirements, diploma types, and student accommodations remains identical to the previous version, with no changes to eligibility criteria, funding, or specific mandates.
Scope change
The bill's scope and applicability are unchanged; the only difference is the formal legal status of the text.
TECHNICAL

The document format was updated from a 'Senate Substitute' draft to an official 'Chaptered' Act of Assembly, including the addition of a chapter number (Chapter 182) and an approval date (April 6, 2026).

Floor votes · Senate Feb 20, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2026

How they voted

390
Passed
Total votes 39
Feb 20, 2026
D Democratic20
20 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
19 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
38
Key actions
12
Committee
8
Apr 6, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 182 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB595ER)
lower
Feb 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 17-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate committee offered
upper
Feb 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Education and Health with substitute (9-Y 6-N)
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 3-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Education with substitute (20-Y 1-N)
lower
Feb 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (10-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
House subcommittee offered
lower
Jan 30, 2026
Committee
Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee
lower
Jan 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Education
lower
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors

Sponsors