SB 656 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Standards of Quality; class size limits, exception for certain ensemble music classes, definition.

Summary
Standards of Quality; class size limits; exception for certain ensemble music classes. Exempts any ensemble music class, as defined by the bill, offered in grade six from the provision limiting the size of any class offered in grades four through six to no larger than 35 students and, instead, permits any such ensemble music class to have up to 45 students.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Last action Mar 10, 2026
Floor votes · Senate Feb 6, 2026

How they voted

380
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 39
Feb 6, 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
18
Key actions
5
Committee
6
Mar 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends striking from the docket (10-Y 0-N)
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Committee
Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee
lower
Feb 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Education
lower
Feb 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Feb 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)
upper
Jan 29, 2026
Committee
Assigned Education sub: Public Education
upper
Jan 14, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Tara Durant
Tara Durant
RRepublican
VA
27