2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26103765D

HOUSE BILL NO. 412

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled January 12, 2026

A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-93 of the Code of Virginia, relating to local governing bodies; school division budgets; funding levels.

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Patron—Cole, N.T.

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Referred to Committee on Education

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 22.1-93 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 22.1-93. Approval of annual budget for school purposes.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including but not limited to Chapter 25 (§ 15.2-2500 et seq.) of Title 15.2, the governing body of a county and the governing body of a municipality shall each prepare and approve an annual budget for educational purposes by May 15 or within 30 days of the receipt by the county or municipality of the estimates of state funds, whichever shall later occur, that meets or exceeds the funding levels set out in the needs-based budget prepared and approved by the school board and submitted by the division superintendent in accordance with § 22.1-92. Upon approval, each local school division shall publish the approved annual budget in line item form, including the estimated required local match, on the division's website, and the document shall also be made available in hard copy as needed to citizens for inspection.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall, no later than the fifteenth day following final adjournment of the Virginia General Assembly in each session, submit estimates to be used for budgetary purposes relative to the Basic School Aid Formula to each school division and to the local governing body of each county, city and town that operates a separate school division. Such estimates shall be for each year of the next biennium or for the then next fiscal year.