The People's Ledger
← All Virginia bills

HB298Introduced in the House of Delegates

Public elementary or secondary school students; evidence-based restorative disciplinary practices.

Passed

Introduced by Delores McQuinn, District 81

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

Public elementary and secondary school students; consideration of evidence-based restorative disciplinary practices required; exceptions; report. Prohibits any public elementary or secondary school student from being suspended, expelled, or excluded from attendance at school unless the school first considers at least one evidence-based restorative disciplinary practice, as defined in the bill, except in the case of certain enumerated serious offenses or aggravating circumstances, as defined in the bill. The bill requires each school, any time it imposes exclusionary discipline instead of an evidence-based restorative disciplinary practice, to document in the student's disciplinary record, as a part of the school's existing disciplinary documentation practices and consistent with the guidelines adopted by the Department of Education (the Department) pursuant to the bill, the rationale for the decision to impose exclusionary discipline, including any factors supporting the decision not to utilize an evidence-based restorative disciplinary practice. The bill directs the Department to (i) add the use of evidence-based restorative disciplinary practices to the Student Behavior and Administrative Response survey in order to annually collect and analyze data on the use of such practices and publicly post an annual report containing an evaluation of the effectiveness of such practices based on the data collected and (ii) adopt and make available guidelines and support materials for considering, monitoring, and evaluating the use of evidence-based restorative disciplinary practices. The provisions of the bill prohibiting any public school student from being suspended, expelled, or excluded from attendance at school unless the school first considers at least one evidence-based restorative disciplinary practice and requiring each school, any time it imposes exclusionary discipline instead of an evidence-based restorative disciplinary practice, to document in the student's disciplinary record the rationale for such decision, have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0586)

April 13, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

6 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

3 recorded votes · each counted separately

House of DelegatesStage: Senate substitute agreed to by House (65-Y 34-N 0-A) · March 11, 2026

65

Yes

34

No

0

Absent or Not Voting

99 delegates recorded in this House of Delegates 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 delegate voted

DelegateDistrictVote
Patrick Hope1Yes
Adele McClure2Yes
Alfonso Lopez3Yes
Charniele Herring4Yes
Kirk McPike5Yes
Richard Sullivan6Yes
Karen Keys-Gamarra7Yes
Irene Shin8Yes
Karrie Delaney9Yes
Dan Helmer10Yes

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102624D

  2. Referred to Committee on Education

  3. Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee

  4. House subcommittee offered

  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB298)

  6. House subcommittee offered

  7. House subcommittee offered

  8. Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N)

  9. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB298)

  10. Reported from Education with substitute and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 6-N)

  11. Committee substitute printed 26107705D-H1

  12. Assigned HAPP sub: Elementary & Secondary Education

  13. Subcommittee recommends reporting (4-Y 2-N)

  14. Reported from Appropriations (14-Y 7-N)

  15. Read first time

  16. Read second time

  17. committee substitute agreed to

  18. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  19. Read third time and passed House (62-Y 35-N 0-A)

  20. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  21. Referred to Committee on Education and Health

  22. Assigned Education sub: Public Education

  23. Senate subcommittee offered

  24. Reported from Education and Health with substitute (9-Y 6-N)

  25. Committee substitute printed 26108470D-S1

  26. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB298)

  27. Rules suspended

  28. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  29. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  30. Passed by for the day

  31. Read third time

  32. Education and Health Substitute agreed to

  33. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

  34. Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

  35. Senate substitute agreed to by House (65-Y 34-N 0-A)

  36. Enrolled

  37. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB298ER)

  38. Signed by President

  39. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB298)

  40. Signed by Speaker

  41. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  42. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  43. Approved by Governor - Chapter 586 (effective - see bill)

  44. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0586)

Verify the information

Our commitment to neutrality

We provide factual information only. We never tell you which politicians or bills to support, and we do not rank, score, or endorse anyone.