Special education; certain educational settings, student age range restriction.
Introduced
Moved
Reached a final decision
Became law
Derived from the official record below.
Officially: “An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-217.5, relating to special education; student age range restrictions in educational settings.” Read the full text
2026 session
What it does
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 da
From the official legislative record, shown verbatim. Not legal advice.
Where it is
Introduced · Jan 12, 2026
Acts of Assembly Chapter 617 (latest official status)
Latest official status shown, exactly as the official record states it. The step by step history lives on the official page linked below.
The numbers
2
sponsors on the bill
Sponsors
Laura Jane CohenVirgil Thornton
Recorded votes
Senate amendment agreed to by House (71-Y 28-N 0-A)House of Delegates · 2026-03-11 · P · Y 71, N 28
Passed Senate with amendment (21-Y 19-N 0-A)Senate · 2026-03-10 · P · Y 21, N 19
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)Senate · 2026-03-06 · P · X 40
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)Senate · 2026-03-06 · P · Y 39, X 1
Reported from Education and Health with amendment (9-Y 6-N)Senate · 2026-03-05 · P · Y 9, N 6
Read third time and passed House (69-Y 28-N 0-A)House of Delegates · 2026-02-17 · P · Y 69, N 28, X 3
Reported from Education with substitute (16-Y 5-N)House of Delegates · 2026-02-11 · P · Y 16, X 1, N 5
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (9-Y 1-N)House of Delegates · 2026-02-10 · P · Y 9, N 1
Roll-call results shown verbatim from the Virginia legislature’s records. A result reflects that roll call’s own motion, not the bill’s overall outcome.
Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record. Last action: Acts of Assembly Chapter 617.