Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill
HB 1473: Higher educational institutions, public; restrictions on student speech, limitations.
In committee Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HB 1473 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 23, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Higher educational institutions, public; restrictions on student speech, limitations. Primary sponsor: Charlie Schmidt. Most recent recorded action (February 11, 2026): Continued to next session in Education (Voice Vote).
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
Public institutions of higher education; students and campus; restrictions on student speech; limitations. Clarifies the requirements for and limitations on the ability of a public institution of higher education to impose restrictions on the time, place, or manner of student speech that occurs in outdoor areas of the institution's campus and is protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States by (i) clarifying the criteria for demonstrating that the restriction is permissible; (ii) prohibiting any public institution of higher education from imposing certain restrictions, punishments, policies, or restraints designed to restrict student speech in ways that violate the First Amendment rights of students, faculty, and staff; and (iii) requiring any public institution of higher education that deems any student speech or assembly unlawful and imposes a restriction on the time, place, or manner of such speech to submit to the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the House Committee on Education within 45 days of imposing such restriction a report detailing the justification for such restriction, demonstrating how the restriction satisfies the criteria required pursuant to applicable law and the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
Sponsors
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlie Schmidt | Primary sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Continued to next session in Education (Voice Vote)
- Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote)
- House subcommittee offered
- Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1473)
- Assigned HED sub: Higher Education
- Referred to Committee on Education
- Presented and ordered printed 26103873D