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Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill

HB 461: Special education; certain educational settings, student age range restriction.

Enacted Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

HB 461 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 12, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Special education; certain educational settings, student age range restriction. Primary sponsor: Laura Jane Cohen (Democratic). It lists 1 additional sponsor. Most recent recorded action (April 13, 2026): Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0617).

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.

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.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 2

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Laura Jane CohenPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse15
Virgil ThorntonCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse86

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0617)
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 617 (effective 7/1/2026)
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
  5. Signed by Speaker
  6. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB461)
  7. Signed by President
  8. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB461ER)
  9. Enrolled
  10. Senate amendment agreed to by House (71-Y 28-N 0-A)
  11. Passed Senate with amendment (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
  12. Engrossed by Senate as amended

Showing 12 most recent of 38 actions. Full history

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source