HB1278Introduced in the House of Delegates
School bd. policies; communication & language accessibility for limited English proficient parents.
Introduced by Atoosa Reaser, District 27
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
School boards; language access plan for limited English proficient parents. Requires each school board to develop, implement, and post in a publicly accessible location on its website a language access plan consisting of policies and procedures designed to ensure meaningful communication with and informational accessibility for limited English proficient (LEP) parents, as that term is defined in the bill. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027. This bill is identical to SB 685.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0764)
April 13, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
7 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
5 recorded votes · each counted separately
SenateStage: Conference report agreed to by Senate (23-Y 15-N 0-A) · March 13, 2026
23
Yes
15
No
2
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 | Yes |
| Mark Obenshain | 2 | No |
| Chris Head | 3 | No |
| David Suetterlein | 4 | Yes |
| Travis Hackworth | 5 | No |
| Todd Pillion | 6 | No |
| William Stanley | 7 | No |
| Mark Peake | 8 | No |
Bill history
Presented and ordered printed 26104939D
Referred to Committee on Education
Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1278)
House subcommittee offered
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 3-N)
Reported from Education with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 6-N)
Assigned HAPP sub: Elementary & Secondary Education
House subcommittee offered
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (5-Y 2-N)
Reported from Appropriations with substitute (16-Y 6-N)
Committee substitute printed 26107411D-H1
Read first time
Read second time
committee amendments rejected
committee substitute agreed to
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
Read third time and passed House (62-Y 33-N 0-A)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1278)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
Reported from Education and Health with substitute (15-Y 0-N)
Senate committee offered
Committee substitute printed 26108246D-S1
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1278)
Read third time
Education and Health Substitute agreed to
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (38-Y 0-N 0-A)
Senate substitute rejected by House (1-Y 95-N 0-A)
Senate insisted on substitute (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
Senate requested conference committee
House acceded to request
Conferees appointed by House
House Conferees: Reaser, Cohen, Tata
Conferees appointed by Senate
Senate Conferees: Pekarsky, VanValkenburg, Head
Conference Report released
Conference Report released
Conference report agreed to by House (64-Y 30-N 0-A)
Conference report agreed to by Senate (23-Y 15-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1278ER)
Signed by President
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 764 (Effective 7/1/2027)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0764)
Verify the information
- Official page on the Virginia Legislature website
- Education Amendment (amendment)
- Education Amendment (amendment)
- Fiscal Note/Analysis (supplement)
- Fiscal Note/Analysis (supplement)
- Fiscal Note/Analysis (supplement)
- Conference Report (supplement)
- Introduced (text)
- Comm Sub (text)
- Comm Sub (text)
- Comm Sub (text)
- Comm Sub (text)
- Comm Sub (text)
- Enrolled (text)
- Chaptered (text)
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