SB 695 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

School Boards; employment of school resource officers, enhanced retirement benefits.

Summary

School boards; employment of school resource officers; Virginia Retirement System. Requires each school board to enter into a collaborative agreement with the local law-enforcement agency to employ at least one school resource officer in each public elementary and secondary school in the local school division. The bill requires localities to provide enhanced retirement benefits to school resource officers. The bill also allows a retired law-enforcement officer to work as a school resource officer after a break in service of at least six months without impacting his retirement benefits.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Last action Feb 3, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Education and Health Substitute · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended from its original 'Introduced' version to an 'Education and Health Substitute' version, which significantly changed the statutes it amends and added new provisions. The original bill focused on school resource officer grants, safety personnel, and retirement benefits. The substitute version adds new requirements for instructional personnel licensing, class size ratios, and staffing levels, while also modifying the sections on school resource officers and retirement benefits.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include new requirements for instructional personnel licensing, class size ratios, and staffing levels in addition to the original focus on school resource officers and retirement benefits.

SCOPE

The bill now includes § 22.1-253.13:2 (Standard 2 for instructional, administrative, and support personnel) in addition to the original sections, expanding the bill's scope to cover teacher licensing and class size requirements.

REQUIREMENT

New requirements were added for class size ratios in kindergarten through 12th grade, including specific student-to-teacher ratios and notification requirements when classes exceed limits.

New requirements were added for middle and high school staffing, including a 21:1 student-to-teacher ratio and one planning period per day for teachers.

ELIGIBILITY

The retirement benefits for school resource officers now apply only to service earned on or after July 1, 2026, limiting eligibility for enhanced benefits to future service.

TIMELINE

New provisions include expiration dates of July 1, 2026 and July 1, 2028 for certain retirement allowance continuation provisions for school employees.

FISCAL

The grant program for school resource officers now includes additional funding for school resource officers employed in secondary schools in accordance with § 22.1-253.13:2.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

Rereferred from Education and Health to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)

upper

Jan 29, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate subcommittee offered

upper

Jan 29, 2026

Committee

Assigned Education sub: Public Education

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Education and Health

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors