SB 167 VA
Higher ed. financial aid programs; amends provisions, Va. Commonwealth Award established, report.
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Summary
Public institutions of higher education; financial aid review and consolidation; Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program and Fund; Virginia Commonwealth Award established; work group; report. Amends several provisions relating to higher education financial aid programs for the purpose of establishing the Virginia Commonwealth Award in the Code of Virginia and consolidating the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program and Fund with the Virginia Commonwealth Award. Currently, the Virginia Commonwealth Award is established and administered only in the Virginia Administrative Code. In consolidating and establishing such financial aid programs as the Virginia Commonwealth Award, the bill codifies several definitions and provisions relating to award eligibility and renewal for undergraduate students and graduate students. The bill also repeals a provision of law establishing the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Fund. The bill directs the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to promulgate emergency regulations for the administration of financial aid in accordance with the provisions of the bill by April 1, 2027. The bill also directs the Secretary of Education to (i) establish a work group to conduct a comprehensive review of higher education financial aid systems and processes in the Commonwealth and make recommendations on strategies for maximizing the efficacy and impact of state financial aid appropriations on accessibility and affordability of and student outcomes in higher education in the Commonwealth and (ii) submit to the chairs of the applicable committees of the General Assembly by July 1, 2027, a report on the work group's findings and recommendations. Finally, the bill provides for the gradual phase-out of the award of grants under the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program by (a) prohibiting any first-time students from being offered a grant under the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program beginning with first-time students enrolled in the fall semester of 2027 and (b) permitting any public institution of higher education to provide for the annual renewal of grant awards under such program for no more than three subsequent award years, or up to a total of four award years, to any student who receives a grant during the 2026–2027 school year and continues to meet the requirements for grant renewal set forth in applicable law. This bill is identical to HB 1221.
Sponsor (1)
- Schuyler T. VanValkenburg Democratic · primary
Action history (36)
- Jan 8, 2026 Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101621D · upper
- Jan 8, 2026 Referred to Committee on Education and Health · upper
- Jan 19, 2026 Assigned Education sub: Higher Education · upper
- Jan 22, 2026 Reported from Education and Health and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N) · upper
- Jan 26, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB167) · upper
- Feb 4, 2026 Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) · upper
- Feb 5, 2026 Rules suspended · upper
- Feb 5, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
- Feb 5, 2026 Passed by for the day (Voice Vote) · upper
- Feb 5, 2026 Passed by for the day · upper
- Feb 6, 2026 Read second time · upper
- Feb 6, 2026 Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote) · upper
- Feb 9, 2026 Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
- Feb 12, 2026 Placed on Calendar · lower
- Feb 12, 2026 Read first time · lower
- Feb 12, 2026 Referred to Committee on Appropriations · lower
- Feb 12, 2026 Assigned HAPP sub: Higher Education · lower
- Feb 20, 2026 House committee offered · lower
- Feb 20, 2026 Reported from Appropriations with substitute (22-Y 0-N) · lower
- Feb 20, 2026 Committee substitute printed 26108244D-H1 · lower
- Feb 24, 2026 Read second time · lower
- Feb 25, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB167) · upper
- Feb 25, 2026 Read third time · lower
- Feb 25, 2026 committee substitute agreed to · lower
- Feb 25, 2026 Engrossed by House - committee substitute · lower
- Feb 25, 2026 Passed House with substitute (97-Y 0-N 0-A) · lower
- Feb 27, 2026 House substitute agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
- Mar 4, 2026 Enrolled · upper
- Mar 4, 2026 Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB167ER) · upper
- Mar 4, 2026 Signed by Speaker · lower
- Mar 4, 2026 Signed by President · upper
- Mar 5, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB167) · upper
- Mar 10, 2026 Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 · upper
- Mar 10, 2026 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 · executive
- Apr 6, 2026 Approved by Governor-Chapter 273 (effective 7/1/2026) · executive
- Apr 6, 2026 Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0273) · executive
Text versions (10)
The published texts of this bill as it moves through the legislature. Each links to the official document on the state legislature site. Data from OpenStates.
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