HB 1221 VA

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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 SB 167.

• Briana D. Sewell Democratic · primary

1. Jan 14, 2026 Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105155D · lower
2. Jan 14, 2026 Referred to Committee on Appropriations · lower
3. Jan 23, 2026 Assigned HAPP sub: Higher Education · lower
4. Jan 26, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1221) · lower
5. Jan 28, 2026 Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N) · lower
6. Jan 30, 2026 Reported from Appropriations (21-Y 0-N) · lower
7. Feb 3, 2026 Read first time · lower
8. Feb 4, 2026 Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar · lower
9. Feb 4, 2026 Read second time and engrossed · lower
10. Feb 5, 2026 Read third time and passed House (91-Y 6-N 0-A) · lower
11. Feb 6, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) · upper
12. Feb 6, 2026 Referred to Committee on Education and Health · upper
13. Feb 19, 2026 Reported from Education and Health and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) · upper
14. Mar 3, 2026 Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (14-Y 0-N) · upper
15. Mar 3, 2026 Rules suspended · upper
16. Mar 3, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
17. Mar 3, 2026 Passed by for the day (Voice Vote) · upper
18. Mar 4, 2026 Committee substitute printed 26109059D-S1 · upper
19. Mar 4, 2026 Read third time · upper
20. Mar 4, 2026 Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to · upper
21. Mar 4, 2026 Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute · upper
22. Mar 4, 2026 Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
23. Mar 5, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1221) · lower
24. Mar 6, 2026 Senate substitute rejected by House (3-Y 94-N 0-A) · lower
25. Mar 10, 2026 Finance and Appropriations Substitute receded by Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
26. Mar 30, 2026 Enrolled · lower
27. Mar 30, 2026 Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1221ER) · lower
28. Mar 30, 2026 Signed by President · upper
29. Mar 31, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1221) · lower
30. Mar 31, 2026 Signed by Speaker · lower
31. Mar 31, 2026 Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 · lower
32. Mar 31, 2026 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 · executive
33. Apr 6, 2026 Approved by Governor-Chapter 272 (effective 7/1/2026) · executive
34. Apr 6, 2026 Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0272) · executive

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.

• Chaptered · PDF
• Chaptered · HTML
• Enrolled · PDF
• Enrolled · HTML
• Finance and Appropriations Substitute · PDF
• Finance and Appropriations Substitute · HTML
• Introduced · PDF
• Introduced · HTML