HB1221Introduced in the House of Delegates
Higher ed. financial aid programs; amends provisions, Va. Commonwealth Award established, report.
Introduced by Briana Sewell, District 25
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
Public institutions of higher education; financial aid review and consolidation; Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program and Fund; Virginia Commonwealth Award established; work group; report. Amends several provisions relating to higher education financial aid programs for the purpose of establishing the Virginia Commonwealth Award in the Code of Virginia and consolidating the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program and Fund with the Virginia Commonwealth Award. Currently, the Virginia Commonwealth Award is established and administered only in the Virginia Administrative Code. In consolidating and establishing such financial aid programs as the Virginia Commonwealth Award, the bill codifies several definitions and provisions relating to award eligibility and renewal for undergraduate students and graduate students. The bill also repeals a provision of law establishing the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Fund. The bill directs the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to promulgate emergency regulations for the administration of financial aid in accordance with the provisions of the bill by April 1, 2027. The bill also directs the Secretary of Education to (i) establish a work group to conduct a comprehensive review of higher education financial aid systems and processes in the Commonwealth and make recommendations on strategies for maximizing the efficacy and impact of state financial aid appropriations on accessibility and affordability of and student outcomes in higher education in the Commonwealth and (ii) submit to the chairs of the applicable committees of the General Assembly by July 1, 2027, a report on the work group's findings and recommendations. Finally, the bill provides for the gradual phase-out of the award of grants under the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program by (a) prohibiting any first-time students from being offered a grant under the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program beginning with first-time students enrolled in the fall semester of 2027 and (b) permitting any public institution of higher education to provide for the annual renewal of grant awards under such program for no more than three subsequent award years, or up to a total of four award years, to any student who receives a grant during the 2026–2027 school year and continues to meet the requirements for grant renewal set forth in applicable law. This bill is identical to SB 167.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0272)
April 6, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
4 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
5 recorded votes · each counted separately
SenateStage: Finance and Appropriations Substitute receded by Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A) · March 10, 2026
39
Yes
0
No
1
Absent or Not Voting
40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
See how each senator voted
| Senator | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Bennett-Parker | 5 | Yes |
| Michael Jones | 77 | Yes |
| Timmy French | 1 | Absent |
| Mark Obenshain | 2 | Yes |
| Chris Head | 3 | Yes |
| David Suetterlein | 4 | Yes |
| Travis Hackworth | 5 | Yes |
| Todd Pillion | 6 | Yes |
| William Stanley | 7 | Yes |
| Mark Peake | 8 | Yes |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105155D
Referred to Committee on Appropriations
Assigned HAPP sub: Higher Education
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1221)
Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N)
Reported from Appropriations (21-Y 0-N)
Read first time
Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar
Read second time and engrossed
Read third time and passed House (91-Y 6-N 0-A)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
Reported from Education and Health and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (14-Y 0-N)
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
Committee substitute printed 26109059D-S1
Read third time
Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1221)
Senate substitute rejected by House (3-Y 94-N 0-A)
Finance and Appropriations Substitute receded by Senate (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1221ER)
Signed by President
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1221)
Signed by Speaker
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Approved by Governor-Chapter 272 (effective 7/1/2026)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0272)
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