The Latest from VEA

The General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn (“Sine Die”) next Saturday, which means there was a flurry of activity during this penultimate week of session. Committees are working to finish up their assigned bills so those that pass through can move to the full chamber floors for a vote next week. And funding decisions are being made as appropriations committees weigh which of the bills that carry fiscal impacts to move forward.

As all eyes are moving toward the budget, conferees were named this week. They are: Delegates Torian, Sickles, Bulova, Carr, Austin, and Bloxom, along with Senators Lucas, Deeds, Locke, McDougle, and Pillion. These 11 lawmakers are tasked with hashing out the differences between the two budget proposals that were released on February 2^nd, and will very likely be hard at work throughout this weekend putting together the “conference budget.” If all goes according to plan, the conference budget will likely be unveiled on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week with a final vote in both chambers by Saturday.

Here’s a summary of the 15 VEA-initiated bills that are still viable as of Friday morning:

These bills have passed both chambers and are now awaiting action by the Governor:

HB1983 (Askew) and SB968 (Carroll Foy) – Requires the VDOE to annually collect and publish average salaries of school support personnel, by career category, in a format similar to the reporting of average teacher salaries. This bill was inspired by an NBI at the 2024 convention.

SB1032 (Pekarsky) – Technical amendment to clarify that continuing contract means continuing contract, specifically that a teacher who has completed the probationary period has earned a continuing contract (assuming good behavior and competent service) unless/until the teacher provides notice of their intent to resign.

These bills have passed their chamber of origin, crossed over, passed through committee in the opposite chamber, and are now moving to full floor votes:

HB1829 (Simonds) – As introduced, comprehensive mathematics support funds additional teacher resources, advanced mathematics courses, and enrichment programs for math education. This bill has since been amended and now requires VDOE to take regulatory actions relating to add-on endorsements for mathematics teachers.

HB1830 (Simonds) – Requires each school board to approve unpaid educational leave for union officers and permit purchase of VRS service credit for the leave.

HB1915 (Reaser) – Same as SB1032(Pekarsky), listed above.

HB2237 (Cousins) – Clarifies that no school board employee can be suspended without notice and an opportunity to be heard, and that if suspended, regardless of the length of the suspension, the employee will continue to receive their salary unless/until the school board determines otherwise after a hearing.

HB2244 (Cousins) – Adds a proportionality measure to the state’s new school accountability system. This new metric is intended to mitigate the likely negative impacts of the accountability system to ensure a fairer evaluation of school performance.

HB2618 (Helmer) and SB1413 (Surovell) – Requires school boards to ensure air quality in each public school building, including inspection and evaluation programs and an industry-recognized uniform inspection and evaluation at least every five years.

SB917 (Surovell) – Repeals the prohibition on collective bargaining by public employees, creates public employee relations board, and requires public employers to negotiate in good faith with respect to wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment with exclusive bargaining representatives.

These bills have passed their chamber of origin, crossed over, and are making their way through committee(s) in the opposite chamber:

HB1988 (Askew) – Expands the statutory authority of Virginia school boards to confirm their authority to sign collective bargaining agreements that allow binding arbitration to enforce them. Passed through Senate Education and Health, referred to Senate Finance and Appropriations.

HB2098 (Maldonado) – Technical amendment to ensure wage protection for school board employees. Referred to Senate Commerce and Labor, on docket for Monday.

HB2471 (Rasoul) – Requires VDOE to provide a no-cost platform to assist school divisions with Medicaid billing for reimbursable services rendered at school sites. Includes survey and reporting components. Passed through Senate Education and Health, referred to Senate Finance and Appropriations.

HB2764 (Tran) – Similar to SB917 (Surovell), listed above. Passed through Senate Commerce and Labor, referred to Senate Finance and Appropriations.