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Higher Education Subcommittee

Monday, February 9, 2026·1h 11m·▶ Watch / Listen

The Virginia House Higher Education Subcommittee advanced multiple contested bills on Board of Visitors composition, campus free speech, and tuition predictability — bundling four bills on faculty, staff, and student voting representation into a single vehicle over member objection — while continuing a campus free speech bill to 2027 and tabling a tuition freeze proposal.

Key Actions

·HB 430 – New College Institute Name Change and Board RestructuringNo Vote

+ 3 more actions

Controversies

Bundling HB 780, HB 939, and HB 1069 into HB 1385 as a single vehicle

Delegate Garrett objected to the motion by Delegate Levir Bowling to incorporate all three bills into HB 1385, stating 'some of us were gonna vote yes on some and no on others. And so when we roll them together... some people down here do support some of these, but not all of them.' Delegate Levir Bowling made the motion regardless and it was adopted on a roll call vote.

+ 4 more controversies

Notable Quotes

“Madam Chairwoman, I am excited to report that 17 other states have passed laws similar to this and their institutions are in fact not burning to the ground. In fact, they're thriving. Students are more than capable of rising to the challenge and they want to do it.”

Delegate Franklin — Delegate Franklin, patron of HB 939, argued in favor of adding a voting student member to Boards of Visitors at each public college and university in Virginia.

+ 4 more quotes

Votes

Report HB 56 with substitute and refer to Rules (made by Delegate Levir Bowling)No Vote
Adopt substitute in concept for HB 430Passed
Report HB 430 as substituted and refer to Appropriations (made by Delegate McQuin)Passed
Adopt substitute for HB 1385Passed
Incorporate HB 780, HB 939, and HB 1069 into HB 1385 and report HB 1385 with substitute (made by Delegate Levir Bowling)Passed
No (1)Delegate Garrett (stated opposition on the record)
Adopt substitute for HB 502Passed
Lay HB 502 on the table (made by Delegate Levir Bowling)Passed
Adopt substitute for HB 1473Passed
Continue HB 1473 to the 2027 session (made by Delegate Levir Bowling)Passed
No (1)Delegate Garrett
Report HB 1378 and refer to AppropriationsPassed
Report HB 971Passed
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TranscriptPreview
As the quorum is present, the education Higher education subcommittee will come to order. The clerk will open the roll and will take attendance. The clerk will close the roll. I'm sorry, Madam Chair, he's trying to vote. No, I just help me, Madam Chair. I will try to go in numerical order whenever possible. But we'll also do it based upon those in attendance. So we will start off with Delegate Fagans and House Bill 56. Good morning, Madam Chair and subcommittee members. I believe there is a substitute. Would anyone like to move this committee the subcommittee substitute? All those in favor. Any opposition hearing? None. Delegate Fagan, the substitute is before us. Thank you, Madam Chair and the substitute to quickly explain it changes it from a looking at the expansion of the vims that program to looking at a turning into a study to see how the benefits of of expanding the line of duty death benefits would hamper or or expand the current V program. So thank you, Madam Chair and subcommittee members for the opportunity to present House Bill 56. The original bill as explained sought to expand to tuition and fee waivers for…
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