Del. Josh Cole

Department of General Services; removal of Confederate monuments and memorials. Directs the Department of General Services to remove all Confederate monuments and memorials from Capitol Square. The bill directs the Department to store such monuments and memorials until such time as the General Assembly determines their final disposition. The bill also requires the Department, in coordination with the Department of Historic Resources, to review the most appropriate options for the final disposition of all monuments, memorials, and artifacts in its possession and report its findings to the Joint Committee on Rules by October 15, 2026.

Public high school students; opportunity to earn transferable meta-major associate degree during high school to reduce college debt. Requires the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, in cooperation with the Virginia Community College System and each associate-degree-granting public institution of higher education and each baccalaureate public institution of higher education, to establish a program by which qualified high school students earn an associate degree in a meta-major through dual enrollment, independent dual enrollment, as defined in the bill, or a combination thereof, that (i) is fully transferable to any baccalaureate public institution of higher education that offers a program of study in such meta-major and (ii) to the extent possible, and as determined by the applicable baccalaureate public institution of higher education, satisfies discipline-specific degree requirements in the student's preferred program of study.

Department of Education; assessment; utilization of funds for regional special education students; report. Requires the Department of Education (the Department), in collaboration with the Office of Children's Services, staff from the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees, and such other stakeholders as the Department deems appropriate, to assess potential enhancements and strategies to maximize utilization of funds designated for regional special education students, commonly referred to as the Students with Intensive Support Needs Application program, in order to decrease the number of referrals of students with disabilities into private day school placements. The bill requires the Department to report its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committees on Appropriations and Education and the Chairs of the Senate Committees on Education and Health and Finance and Appropriations no later than December 15, 2026.

Restorative housing and isolated confinement; restrictions on use. Prohibits the use of isolated confinement, defined in the bill, in state correctional facilities, subject to certain exceptions. The bill requires that before placing an incarcerated person in restorative housing or isolated confinement for his own protection, the facility administrator shall place an incarcerated person in a less-restrictive setting, including by transferring such person to another institution or to a special-purpose housing unit for incarcerated persons who face similar threats. The bill requires that if an incarcerated person is placed in restorative housing or isolated confinement, such placement shall be reviewed every two business days and the facility administrator shall ensure that the incarcerated person receives a medical and mental health evaluation from certified medical and mental health professionals within one working day of placement in restorative housing or any form of isolated confinement. The bill also requires the facility administrator to notify the regional administrator in writing that an incarcerated person was placed in restorative housing or isolated confinement within 24 hours of such placement. Finally, the bill requires that formal reviews of an incarcerated person's placement in any form of isolated confinement shall be held in such person's presence, inform him of any reasons administrative officials believe isolated confinement remains necessary, and give the incarcerated person an opportunity to respond to those reasons, and a formal ruling shall be provided to the incarcerated individual within 24 hours.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SJ 129) is a symbolic resolution commending the Virginia Black Restaurant Experience, a cultural initiative celebrating Black-owned restaurants in Virginia. It does not create new laws or affect any legal rights, as it is purely a ceremonial gesture of recognition. The resolution formally honors the contributions of Black restaurateurs and the cultural impact of this experience within the state. It passed both chambers via voice vote but has no binding effect on policy or funding.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a substantive bill) honoring the late Barnie Keith Day. It formally celebrates his life and contributions, as specified in the title and abstract. The resolution was approved by both the Senate and House in early 2026 and now awaits final enactment. It does not create new laws, change policies, or directly affect any individuals or groups.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SJ 120) that formally commends the Virginia Outdoors Foundation for its work. It does not create new laws or affect policy; it is a symbolic gesture recognizing the organization's contributions. The bill passed both chambers via voice vote in early March 2026 and was referred to the Speaker's table for final processing. As a procedural resolution, it has no direct impact on legislation or constituents.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SJ 106) commending Curtis Allen for his contributions. It does not create new laws or affect any policies, as it is solely a formal expression of recognition. The resolution passed unanimously in both the Senate (via voice vote on 2026-02-26) and House (via voice vote on 2026-03-02). It is a non-binding gesture with no practical impact on legislation or constituents.

Public schools; indoor air quality; industry-recognized uniform inspection and evaluation. Adds several items that are required to be included in the industry-recognized uniform inspection and evaluation of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system that is required at least every four years for each public elementary and secondary school building, including measurement of radon levels in the air and testing for moisture incursion. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027.

Equity in public school funding and staffing; special education students; at-risk students; annual report. Establishes in Standard of Quality 2 the At-Risk Program and a state-supported add-on for special education students and requires corresponding formulas for the funding of such initiatives to be established in the general appropriation act. The bill also requires the Department of Education to report annually to the House Committees on Education and Appropriations and the Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations and on Education and Health the total and per pupil annual operating expenditures from local, state, and federal sources in each school division and the change in expenditures from each such source over the immediately preceding two-year, three-year, and five-year timeframes, expressed in both dollar amounts and percentages.