HB263Introduced in the House of Delegates
Certified school library specialists; Superintendent of Public Instruction to employ in DOE.
Introduced by Shelly Simonds, District 70
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
Writing a plain-English summary of this bill… this can take a few seconds the first time.
Official description
Superintendent of Public Instruction; employment of certified school library specialists. Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to employ in the Department of Education at least one certified school library specialist who shall have several duties enumerated in the bill, including (i) providing leadership and technical assistance with the implementation and use of information literacy skills to school divisions, Department staff, and other stakeholders to support student achievement; (ii) directing the implementation of state and national school library standards and consulting with and providing technical assistance to local school divisions relating to such standards; (iii) collaborating on various grants and other initiatives that promote student literacy through school library programs throughout the Commonwealth; (iv) supporting student learning through instructional programs in which students are required to demonstrate information literacy, digital literacy and fluency, and effective use of technology and instructional programs that incorporate science, technology, engineering, and math learning; and (v) providing the Department, the Board of Education, the General Assembly, and school boards with support relating to student learning through the use of school library standards and library resources.
Where it stands
Continued to next session in Education and Health (14-Y 1-N)
February 19, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
5 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
1 recorded vote · each counted separately
SenateStage: Continued to next session in Education and Health (14-Y 1-N) · February 19, 2026
14
Yes
1
No
0
Absent or Not Voting
15 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
What do people think?
Citizen Voice
How would you vote on this bill?
An unofficial public opinion poll. It does not affect the bill or the official vote.
One response per device. Location is self-reported and not verified. Results are informal and not a scientific survey.
See how each senator voted
| Senator | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Head | 3 | Yes |
| David Suetterlein | 4 | No |
| Todd Pillion | 6 | Yes |
| Mark Peake | 8 | Yes |
| Lashrecse Aird | 13 | Yes |
| Lamont Bagby | 14 | Yes |
| Schuyler VanValkenburg | 16 | Yes |
| Louise Lucas | 18 | Yes |
| Christie New Craig | 19 | Yes |
| Mamie Locke | 23 | Yes |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101218D
Referred to Committee on Education
Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee
Subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations (9-Y 1-N)
Reported from Education and referred to Appropriations (17-Y 4-N)
Assigned HAPP sub: Elementary & Secondary Education
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB263)
Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 0-N)
Reported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)
Read first time
Read second time and engrossed
Read third time and passed House (74-Y 22-N 0-A)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
Continued to next session in Education and Health (14-Y 1-N)
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