HB 653 VA

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Became Law

Excused student absences for visitation of immediate family members in connection with deployment. Allots five excused absences to any student whose immediate family member is active duty military and has received orders for, is on leave from, or has recently returned from deployment outside the United States for the purpose of visitation with such family member, provided that the student provides written documentation verifying such leave or deployment if requested by the local school division.

• Hillary Pugh Kent Republican · primary

1. Jan 13, 2026 Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104899D · lower
2. Jan 13, 2026 Referred to Committee on Education · lower
3. Jan 23, 2026 Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee · lower
4. Jan 27, 2026 House subcommittee offered · lower
5. Jan 27, 2026 Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (8-Y 2-N) · lower
6. Jan 29, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB653) · lower
7. Feb 2, 2026 House committee offered · lower
8. Feb 2, 2026 Reported from Education with substitute (13-Y 2-N) · lower
9. Feb 2, 2026 Reported from Education with substitute (21-Y 1-N) · lower
10. Feb 2, 2026 Committee substitute printed 26106668D-H1 · lower
11. Feb 4, 2026 Read first time · lower
12. Feb 5, 2026 Read second time · lower
13. Feb 5, 2026 committee substitute agreed to · lower
14. Feb 5, 2026 Engrossed by House - committee substitute · lower
15. Feb 6, 2026 Read third time and passed House (94-Y 2-N 0-A) · lower
16. Feb 9, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB653) · lower
17. Feb 9, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) · upper
18. Feb 9, 2026 Referred to Committee on Education and Health · upper
19. Feb 19, 2026 Assigned Education sub: Public Education · upper
20. Feb 26, 2026 Senate committee offered · upper
21. Feb 26, 2026 Reported from Education and Health with amendment (15-Y 0-N) · upper
22. Feb 27, 2026 Rules suspended · upper
23. Feb 27, 2026 Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
24. Feb 27, 2026 Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) · upper
25. Mar 2, 2026 Read third time · upper
26. Mar 2, 2026 Committee amendment agreed to (Voice Vote) · upper
27. Mar 2, 2026 Engrossed by Senate as amended · upper
28. Mar 2, 2026 Passed Senate with amendment Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · upper
29. Mar 4, 2026 Senate amendment agreed to by House (95-Y 0-N 0-A) · lower
30. Mar 11, 2026 Enrolled · lower
31. Mar 11, 2026 Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB653ER) · lower
32. Mar 11, 2026 Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB653) · lower
33. Mar 11, 2026 Signed by President · upper
34. Mar 12, 2026 Signed by Speaker · lower
35. Mar 14, 2026 Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026 · lower
36. Mar 14, 2026 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 · executive
37. Apr 6, 2026 Approved by Governor-Chapter 193 (effective 7/1/2026) · executive
38. Apr 6, 2026 Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0193) · 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
• Senate Amendment · HTML
• Education and Health Amendment · HTML
• Education and Health Amendment · HTML
• Education Substitute · PDF
• Education Substitute · HTML
• Education Substitute · PDF
• Education Substitute · HTML
• K-12 Subcommittee Subcommittee Amendment · HTML
• Education Amendment · HTML
• Introduced · PDF
• Introduced · HTML