SB 724 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

High school graduation requirements and diploma pathways; implementation.

Summary

High school graduation requirements; application. Provides that, in the event that the Board of Education establishes or modifies any graduation requirements or diploma pathways, the Board shall only apply such new or modified graduation requirements or diploma pathways to students who enter ninth grade at the beginning of or after the first school year of implementation of such new or modified graduation requirements or diploma pathways. The bill is applicable beginning with students who enter the ninth grade on or after the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year. This bill is identical to HB 1283.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 15, 2026 Signed Apr 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Education and Health Substitute → Enrolled · 2 edits · Mar 5, 2026

MINOR

The bill was formally enrolled and approved, transitioning from a draft substitute to an enacted law. The substantive text of the legislation remains largely unchanged, with the primary modifications being the addition of the session year, the 'Enrolled' status, and minor formatting adjustments to section citations.

Scope change

The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged as the core policy text was not altered.

TIMELINE

Added the session year (2026) and 'Enrolled' status to indicate the bill has been finalized and signed into law.

TECHNICAL

Updated section citations to include non-breaking spaces for consistent formatting.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 6, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 2, 2026

How they voted

38–0

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

Key actions

Committee

Apr 13, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor-Chapter 812 (effective 7/1/2026)

executive

Mar 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Signed by President

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Signed by Speaker

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB724ER)

upper

Mar 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed House (95-Y 2-N 0-A)

lower

Feb 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Education (21-Y 1-N)

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)

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

Senate committee offered

upper

Feb 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate subcommittee offered

upper

Feb 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Education and Health with substitute (14-Y 0-N)

upper

Jan 29, 2026

Committee

Assigned Education sub: Public Education

upper

Jan 15, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Education and Health

upper

Jan 15, 2026

Introduced

Presented and ordered printed 26105476D

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors