2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26101365D

HOUSE BILL NO. 462

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled January 12, 2026

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 22.1-200.03 and 22.1-274.2:1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to certain economics education and financial literacy instruction and health education; instruction on health insurance and health care.

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Patron—Cohen

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Committee Referral Pending

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 22.1-200.03 and 22.1-274.2:1 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 22.1-200.03. Economics education and financial literacy required in middle and high school grades; Board of Education to establish objectives for economic education and financial literacy; banking-at-school programs.

A. Instruction in the principles of the American economic system shall be required in the public middle and high schools of the Commonwealth to promote economics education and financial literacy of students and to further the development of knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for responsible citizenship in a constitutional democracy.

B. The Board of Education shall develop and approve objectives for economics education and financial literacy at the middle and high school levels, that shall be required of all students, and shall provide for the systematic infusion of economic principles in the relevant Standards of Learning, and in career and technical education programs. The objectives shall include personal living and finances; personal and business money management skills; opening an account in a financial institution and judging the quality of a financial institution's services; balancing a checkbook; completing a loan application; the implications of and differences between various employment arrangements with regard to benefits, protections, and long-term financial sustainability; the implications of an inheritance; the basics of personal insurance policies, including individual health insurance policies and navigating the Virginia Health Benefit Exchange established pursuant to Chapter 65 (§ 38.2-6500 et seq.) of Title 38.2; consumer rights and responsibilities; dealing with salesmen and merchants; debt management; managing retail and credit card debt; evaluating the economic value of postsecondary studies, including the net cost of attendance, potential student loan debt, and potential earnings; state and federal tax computation; local tax assessments; computation of interest rates by various mechanisms; understanding simple contracts; and learning how to contest an incorrect bill.

C. To facilitate the objectives of economics education and financial literacy through practical experiences, the Department shall confer with the State Corporation Commission's Bureau of Financial Institutions, and financial and relevant professional organizations in the development of guidelines for such literacy objectives. The guidelines shall include (i) rules and policies governing the establishment, operation, and dissolution of school banks and school credit unions; (ii) written agreements between partnering public schools and financial institutions, including the disposition of funds donated or other financial contributions provided by the partnering financial institution; and (iii) such other matters as the Department may deem appropriate.

D. The Board shall not be required to evaluate student achievement concerning economics education and financial literacy objectives in the Standards of Learning assessments required by § 22.1-253.13:3.

E. For the purposes of this section:

"At-risk and disadvantaged students" means students having socioeconomic or cultural risk factors that research indicates may negatively influence academic achievement or may hinder an individual in reaching his life goals.

"Employment arrangements" means full-time employment, part-time employment, independent contract work, gig work, piece work, contingent work, day labor work, freelance work, and 1099 work.

"Financial institution" means a bank, savings and loan association, savings bank, or credit union authorized to conduct business in the Commonwealth.

"High school" includes grades nine through 12.

"Middle school" includes grades six through eight.

§ 22.1-274.2:1. Grade nine and grade 10 health education Standards of Learning; severe allergic reaction awareness training and health care literacy instruction.

The Board shall include in the Standards of Learning for health education for grade nine and grade 10 an:

1. An in-person or online severe allergic reaction awareness training that includes the following content:

1. a. The definition of and distinction between normal allergic reaction and anaphylaxis;

2. b. Types of allergens, including common and less common allergens;

3. c. The signs and symptoms of normal allergic reaction and anaphylaxis;

4. d. Treatments for anaphylaxis; and

5. e. The proper response to suspected anaphylaxis, including notifying the nearest staff member trained to respond to anaphylaxis and administer epinephrine; and

2. Health care literacy instruction for the purpose of helping students navigate the health care system efficiently and effectively that includes the following topics and content:

a. Navigating the health care system as a patient, including patient concerns such as understanding, communication, cost-effective utilization, digital access, finance, and insurance;

b. Accessing health information, including being able to find and retrieve reliable health information from various sources;

c. Understanding health information, including comprehending medical terminology, statistics, and instructions;

d. Evaluating health information, including assessing the credibility and relevance of health information sources;

e. Applying health information, including making informed decisions about health behaviors, treatments, and resources; and

f. Communicating with health care providers, including effectively communicating health concerns and questions to health care professionals.