Bill
Bill > HB131
VA HB131
VA HB131Higher educational institutions, public; reasonable accommodations for religious beliefs, etc.
summary
Introduced
01/03/2026
01/03/2026
In Committee
02/26/2026
02/26/2026
Crossed Over
02/02/2026
02/02/2026
Passed
04/06/2026
04/06/2026
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
04/06/2026
04/06/2026
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Regular Session
Bill Summary
Public institutions of higher education; reasonable accommodations for the religious beliefs and practices of individual students. Requires each public institution of higher education to provide reasonable accommodations, as defined in the bill, for the religious beliefs and practices of individual students with regard to admissions, class attendance, and the scheduling of examinations and work assignments and to provide and describe in the institution's student handbook or an equivalent document and in the institution's faculty handbook or an equivalent document a grievance procedure for any student to seek redress when the student believes that he has been unreasonably denied such reasonable accommodations for his religious beliefs and practices.
AI Summary
This bill requires public colleges and universities in Virginia to provide "reasonable accommodations" for students' religious beliefs and practices, meaning any necessary adjustments to admissions, class attendance, or the scheduling of exams and assignments that allow students to observe their faith without significantly changing educational requirements or causing excessive difficulty for the institution. Furthermore, these institutions must clearly outline this accommodation policy and a process for students to file complaints if they believe their requests for religious accommodations have been unfairly denied, making sure this information is available in both student and faculty handbooks or similar official documents.
Committee Categories
Education, Health and Social Services
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0074) (on 04/06/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB131 |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB131/text/CHAP0074 |
| Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB131) | https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1198459.PDF |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB131/text/HB131ER |
| Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB131) | https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1098920.PDF |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB131/text/HB131 |
Loading...