HB 462 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Health Ed. SOL; Bd. of Ed. to require literacy instruction in grade 9 & 10 in next revision.

Summary
Board of Education; review and revision of Health Education Standards of Learning and Curriculum Framework; development of health care literacy instruction; removal of duplicative or outdated health instruction. Directs the Board of Education, during its next regularly scheduled revision of the Health Education Standards of Learning and Curriculum Framework to, in consultation with the School Health Services Committee, (i) develop a health care literacy program of instruction to be required at grades nine and 10 for the purpose of helping students navigate the health care system efficiently and effectively and, in developing such program of instruction, to consider the inclusion of certain topics and content enumerated by the bill and (ii) identify and remove from such Standards of Learning and Curriculum Framework for grades nine and 10 any instructional subjects or topics the inclusion of which is duplicative or outdated.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Signed Apr 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

K-12 Subcommittee Subcommittee Substitute Education and Health Substitute · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended to add a requirement for removing duplicative or outdated health instruction alongside the new mandate for health literacy. It also specifies that the Board of Education must consult with the School Health Services Committee and develop a formal program to teach students how to navigate the healthcare system in grades 9 and 10.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to include the removal of existing redundant content in addition to adding new instructional requirements.
REQUIREMENT

Added a mandate to remove any duplicative or outdated health instruction from the standards.

Added a requirement for the Board of Education to consult with the School Health Services Committee when developing the new program.

Changed the language to require the development of a specific 'health care literacy program of instruction' rather than just general instruction.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 27, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2026

How they voted

360
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 39
Feb 27, 2026
D Democratic20
18 Yea 2
90% Yea
R Republican19
18 Yea 1
94% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
40
Key actions
13
Committee
10
Apr 13, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 799 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB462ER)
lower
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Education and Health with substitute (10-Y 0-N 4-A)
upper
Feb 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate committee offered
upper
Feb 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate subcommittee offered
upper
Feb 19, 2026
Committee
Assigned Education sub: Public Education
upper
Feb 11, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
upper
Feb 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (64-Y 34-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Education with substitute (14-Y 7-N)
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Education with substitute and referred to Appropriations (17-Y 5-N)
lower
Jan 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
House subcommittee offered
lower
Jan 23, 2026
Committee
Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee
lower
Jan 12, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Education
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors