HB478Introduced in the House of Delegates
Diploma seal for excellence in fine arts; established, industry-recognized workforce credential.
Introduced by Vivian Watts, District 14
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
Diploma seal for excellence in fine arts established; industry-recognized workforce credential. Requires the Board of Education to establish criteria for awarding a high school diploma seal for excellence in fine arts, which may include a sequence of coursework, cumulative grade point average in such sequence of coursework, or any other performance-based criteria that the Board deems appropriate. The bill also requires the Board to add such diploma seal to its list of industry-recognized workforce credentials for the purpose of satisfying the career and technical education credential option for high school graduation.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0152)
April 6, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
SenateStage: Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · March 2, 2026
40
Yes
0
No
0
Absent or Not Voting
40 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Bennett-Parker | 5 | Yes |
| Michael Jones | 77 | Yes |
| Timmy French | 1 | Yes |
| 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 26102498D
Referred to Committee on Education
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB478)
Assigned HED sub: Early Childhood and Innovation
Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 1-N)
Reported from Education (17-Y 3-N 1-A)
Read first time
Read second time and engrossed
Read third time and passed House (68-Y 28-N 0-A)
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
Assigned Education sub: Public Education
Reported from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Read third time
Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB478ER)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB478)
Signed by Speaker
Signed by President
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Approved by Governor-Chapter 152 (effective 7/1/2026)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0152)
Verify the information
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