SB 91 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Eastern Virginia Health Sciences Center at ODU; renames as Virginia Health Sciences at ODU.

Summary

An Act to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-3106, 2.2-3705.4, 2.2-3711, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, 22.1-209.2, 23.1-2002, 23.1-2006, 23.1-2007, 32.1-69.3, 32.1-71.5, 32.1-71.6, 38.2-5008, and 54.1-2961 of the Code of Virginia, relating to public institutions of higher education; Old Dominion University; Eastern Virginia Health Sciences Center renamed as Virginia Health Sciences.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Dec 31, 2025 Signed Apr 8, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled → Chaptered · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill finalizes the legislative changes to rename the Eastern Virginia Health Sciences Center at Old Dominion University to the Virginia Health Sciences Center and updates the effective date for closed meeting rules to July 1, 2026. It also adds new provisions for a statewide cord blood bank initiative and a cancer research consortium, while clarifying the governance structure for the renamed health sciences center.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of the health sciences center's name and adds new public health initiatives (cord blood bank and cancer consortium) that were previously introduced but not finalized in the enrolled version.

TIMELINE

The effective date for the closed meeting rules was changed from July 1, 2026 to July 1, 2026 (no change in date, but the text was updated to reflect the final chaptered status), and the bill was formally approved and enacted.

SCOPE

New sections were added to establish a Virginia Cord Blood Bank Initiative as a public resource for treating life-threatening diseases and a Research and Clinical Trial Cancer Consortium to coordinate cancer research across the state.

DEFINITION

The name 'Eastern Virginia Health Sciences Center at Old Dominion University' was updated to 'Virginia Health Sciences Center' in several sections to reflect the renaming of the institution.

REQUIREMENT

New requirements were added for the governance of the renamed health sciences center, including a standing committee with specific appointment powers and term limits for citizen members.

Floor votes · Senate Jan 23, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 9, 2026

How they voted

38–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 39

Jan 23, 2026

D Democratic20

20 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican19

18 Yea 1

94% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 8, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor-Chapter 482 (effective 7/1/2026)

executive

Mar 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Signed by President

upper

Mar 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Signed by Speaker

lower

Mar 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB91ER)

upper

Mar 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed House (96-Y 0-N 0-A)

lower

Mar 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Education (21-Y 0-N)

lower

Feb 3, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Education

lower

Jan 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read third time and passed Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

upper

Jan 22, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Education and Health (14-Y 0-N)

upper

Jan 19, 2026

Committee

Assigned Education sub: Higher Education

upper

Dec 31, 2025

Committee

Referred to Committee on Education and Health

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors