2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26105538D

HOUSE BILL NO. 1354

Offered January 19, 2026

A BILL to amend and reenact § 23.1-628 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Tuition Assistance Grant Program; eligible institutions.

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Patrons—Walker and McQuinn

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Referred to Committee on Appropriations

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 23.1-628 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 23.1-628. Tuition Assistance Grant Program.

A. As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Eligible institution" means a nonprofit private institution of higher education whose primary purpose is to provide collegiate, graduate, or professional education and not to provide religious training or theological education, including any nonprofit private historically black college or university that is located in the Commonwealth and accredited by a national institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

"Grant" means a Tuition Assistance Grant.

"Principal place of business" means the single state in which the natural persons who establish policy for the direction, control, and coordination of the operations of the institution as a whole primarily exercise that function, considering the following factors: (i) the state in which the primary executive and administrative offices of the institution are located; (ii) the state in which the principal office of the chief executive officer of the institution is located; (iii) the state in which the board of trustees or similar governing board of the institution conducts a majority of its meetings; and (iv) the state from which the overall operations of the institution are directed.

"Program" means the Tuition Assistance Grant Program.

B. From such funds as may be provided for such purpose, the Tuition Assistance Grant Program is established to provide Tuition Assistance Grants to or on behalf of Virginia students who attend eligible institutions.

C. Eligible institutions admitted to this program on or after January 1, 2011, shall (i) be formed, chartered, established, or incorporated within the Commonwealth; (ii) have their principal place of business within the Commonwealth; (iii) conduct their primary educational activity within the Commonwealth; and (iv) be accredited by a nationally recognized regional accrediting agency or, in the case of any nonprofit private historically black college or university that is located in the Commonwealth, by a national institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.