2026 SESSION

HOUSE SUBSTITUTE

26107663D

HOUSE BILL NO. 1095

FLOOR AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by Delegate Singh

on February 10, 2025)

(Patron Prior to Substitute—Delegate Singh)

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-206.4, relating to high school students; completion of certain applications for student financial aid required; opt-out; exemption.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 22.1-206.4 as follows:

§ 22.1-206.4. High school students; completion of certain applications for student financial aid required; opt-out; exemption.

A. As used in this section:

"High school student" means any public high school student in the Commonwealth and any other high school student in the Commonwealth who satisfies compulsory education requirements through any means set forth in subsection A of § 22.1-254.

"Student financial aid application" means the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be submitted to the U.S. Department of Education or, if applicable to the specific student, the Virginia Alternative Student Aid (VASA) application to be submitted to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

B. Each high school student or, in the case of such a high school student who is a minor, the student's parent shall, prior to such student's graduation from high school, (i) submit a student financial aid application and confirm such submission in writing to the school board in the local school division in which the student resides or (ii) opt out of the requirements set forth in clause (i) in writing by submitting to the school board in the local school division in which the student resides an opt-out form developed by the Department and made available to the student or his parent by such school board.

C. The Department shall develop, make available to each school board, and post publicly and conspicuously on its website the opt-out form described in clause (ii) of subsection B.

D. Any school board that cannot obtain either the written confirmation or the written opt-out form described in subsection B for any high school student who resides in the local school division after making reasonable efforts to do so shall exempt such student from such requirements.

E. No high school student who fails to provide the written confirmation or the written opt-out form described in subsection B shall be subject to any punitive measure as the result of such failure, including withholding the student's high school diploma.

F. No school board or employee thereof shall disclose any personally identifiable information or aggregate data related to the requirements set forth in this section to any individual or entity outside of the local school division, including to any local, state, or federal entity or any constitutional officer, as that term is defined in § 15.2-1605.2.

2. That the Department of Education shall develop and issue guidance on the implementation of § 22.1-206.4 of the Code of Virginia, as created by this act, including methods for reducing the administrative burden related to such implementation.