SB 563 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Public elementary and secondary schools; parent's right to opt children out of certain ed. content.

Summary
Parents of public elementary and secondary school children; fundamental right to opt children out of certain educational content. Provides that parents of public elementary and secondary school children have the fundamental right to opt their children out, without penalty, of any instruction, reading, discussion, presentation, including any audio-visual presentation, school assembly, or activity that includes any gender identity, sexual orientation, transgenderism, or drag show theme or content, and the elementary or secondary school shall make reasonable accommodations during such opt-out period. The bill also requires any public secondary school student who is 18 years of age or older to, by request of such student, opt-out, without penalty, of any such instruction, reading discussion, presentation, including any audio-visual presentation, school assembly, or activity, and requires the secondary school to make reasonable accommodations during such opt-out period.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Last action Feb 12, 2026
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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
5
Key actions
0
Committee
2
Feb 5, 2026
Committee
Assigned Education sub: Public Education
upper
Jan 14, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors