SB 427 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

High school graduation requirements; history and social studies credits.

Summary
High school graduation requirements; history and social studies credits; certain substitutions permitted. Requires the Board of Education, in establishing high school graduation requirements, to permit any student to substitute the African American History course or the Advanced Placement African American Studies course for the World History I course or the World Geography course for the purpose of satisfying the history and social studies credit requirements, provided that (i) such a course is available to the student and (ii) the student is required to complete and receive a passing score on an applicable local alternative assessment or an equivalent Board-approved assessment, in order to satisfy history and social studies credit requirements for graduation. The bill directs the Board of Education to amend its regulations in accordance with the provisions of the bill and to ensure that no student who makes such a substitution is required to earn a verified credit for the World History I or World Geography course in order to graduate. This bill is identical to HB 182.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Signed Apr 6, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled Chaptered · 3 edits
MINOR
This bill finalizes the text of SB 427 by adding the official chapter number and approval date. The substantive policy content remains unchanged from the enrolled version, including provisions for substituting computer science credits for foreign language requirements and allowing African American History courses to substitute for World History.
TECHNICAL

Added the official chapter number (Chapter 346) and the specific approval date (April 6, 2026) to the header, which are required for the bill to become law.

Removed the placeholder text 'VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- CHAPTER' and the word 'Approved' to replace them with the specific chapter number and date.

Adjusted the formatting of the section number in subsection (ii) of paragraph 22, changing '§ 22.1-253.13:3' to '§ 22.1-253.13:3' to match the style used elsewhere in the document.

Floor votes · Senate Jan 30, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 9, 2026

How they voted

370
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 39
Jan 30, 2026
D Democratic20
20 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
17 Yea 2
89% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
36
Key actions
12
Committee
7
Amendments
2
Apr 6, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 346 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB427ER)
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House with substitute (62-Y 35-N 0-A)
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Education with substitute (14-Y 7-N)
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
House committee offered
lower
Feb 9, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Education
lower
Feb 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (23-Y 16-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Introduced
Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Education and Health Amendment agreed to
upper
Jan 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Jan 29, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Education and Health with amendment (12-Y 2-N)
upper
Jan 29, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate committee offered
upper
Jan 22, 2026
Committee
Assigned Education sub: Public Education
upper
Jan 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Lamont Bagby
Lamont Bagby
DDemocratic
VA
14