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HB461Introduced in the House of Delegates

Special education; certain educational settings, student age range restriction.

Passed

Introduced by Laura Jane Cohen, District 15

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Special education; student age range restrictions in educational settings. Prohibits any student with a disability in grades kindergarten through six from being regularly assigned to any educational setting, including any specialized educational setting, in which the maximum age range exceeds four years unless the student's individualized education program (IEP) team determines that an exception is appropriate and justifies such exception in the student's IEP. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027.

Where it stands

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0617)

April 13, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

4 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

3 recorded votes · each counted separately

House of DelegatesStage: Senate amendment agreed to by House (71-Y 28-N 0-A) · March 11, 2026

71

Yes

28

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.

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 26101364D

  2. Referred to Committee on Education

  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB461)

  4. Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee

  5. House subcommittee offered

  6. Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (9-Y 1-N)

  7. House committee offered

  8. Reported from Education with substitute (16-Y 5-N)

  9. Committee substitute printed 26107653D-H1

  10. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB461)

  11. Read first time

  12. Read second time

  13. committee substitute agreed to

  14. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  15. Read third time and passed House (69-Y 28-N 0-A)

  16. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  17. Referred to Committee on Education and Health

  18. Assigned Education sub: Public Education

  19. Senate subcommittee offered

  20. Reported from Education and Health with amendment (9-Y 6-N)

  21. Rules suspended

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

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

  24. Passed by for the day

  25. Read third time

  26. Education and Health Amendment agreed to

  27. Engrossed by Senate as amended

  28. Passed Senate with amendment (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

  29. Senate amendment agreed to by House (71-Y 28-N 0-A)

  30. Enrolled

  31. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB461ER)

  32. Signed by President

  33. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB461)

  34. Signed by Speaker

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

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

  37. Approved by Governor - Chapter 617 (effective - 7/1/2027)

  38. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0617)

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