HB 996 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Postsecondary Education Rehabilitation Transition Program; plan for expansion of Program.

Summary

Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services; Department of Education; Postsecondary Education Rehabilitation Transition Program. Directs the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, in collaboration with the Department of Education, to develop a plan to expand the Postsecondary Education Rehabilitation Transition (PERT) Program to increase the number of students assisted in the transition from high school to postsecondary programs. The bill requires such plan to equip local community services boards with the resources to assist an increased number of students in such transition, publish online resources about the transition process, and develop an online dashboard to provide information about possible postsecondary education programs.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Signed Apr 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed → Enrolled · 2 edits · Feb 26, 2026

MINOR

The bill transitioned from an 'Engrossed' draft containing bracketed text suggesting specific actions (like 'develop a plan to') and House amendments to a final 'Enrolled' version. The primary change is the removal of all bracketed editorial marks and formatting artifacts, resulting in clean, final statutory language. No substantive policy changes, such as new funding amounts, eligibility criteria, or deadlines, were introduced in this version.

TECHNICAL

Removed bracketed text and editorial markers (e.g., '[ and implement ]') that indicated proposed changes or House amendments, finalizing the bill's language.

Removed session headers, bill numbers, and other formatting elements specific to the draft or engrossed stages to prepare the text for the official enrolled statute.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 24, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

How they voted

38–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 39

Feb 24, 2026

D Democratic20

20 Yea

100% 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

Amendments

Apr 13, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor-Chapter 721 (effective 7/1/2026)

executive

Feb 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

Signed by President

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

Signed by Speaker

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB996ER)

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

upper

Feb 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services (15-Y 0-N)

upper

Feb 16, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time and passed House (90-Y 6-N 0-A)

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Introduced

Engrossed by House as amended

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

committee amendments agreed to

lower

Feb 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Education with amendment(s) (17-Y 4-N)

lower

Feb 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

House committee offered

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 13, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Education

lower

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors