Bill
Bill > HB780
VA HB780
VA HB780Higher educational institutions, public; appointment and composition of members, powers and duties.
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Regular Session
Bill Summary
Public institutions of higher education; governing boards; appointment and composition of members; powers and duties; legal counsel. Amends several provisions relating to the employment, oversight, and management of the legal counsel for each public institution of higher education. The bill also amends the requirements relating to the appointment of members to and the composition of the governing board of each public institution of higher education, including (i) changing the required number of members to 18; (ii) expanding the term of each member of a governing board from four years to six years; (iii) requiring each governing board to appoint one member of the faculty, one member of the staff, and one student to the respective board as voting members; (iv) modifying procedural requirements for gubernatorial appointments and the confirmation of gubernatorial requirements by the General Assembly; and (v) amending and clarifying several procedural requirements specific to the appointment of members of governing boards, including appointments to fill vacancies and nomination and confirmation procedures and timelines. The bill also changes the procedures and requirements for the appointment of members to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and amends the requirements relating to meetings of and exercise of authority by each governing board and any executive committee appointed by a governing board pursuant to applicable law. Finally, the bill clarifies and expands the duties of each governing board in its collective capacity, and of the members of each governing board in their individual capacities, regarding (a) the primary duties of governing boards to advance the interests of the institution and the people of the Commonwealth, (b) duties relating to ideological and partisan neutrality and the protection of academic freedom and freedom of speech, and (c) duties relating to the relationship of the governing board and the institution's administration, faculty, and students.
AI Summary
This bill makes significant changes to the governance of public higher education institutions in Virginia, primarily by altering the composition and powers of their governing boards and clarifying the role of legal counsel. Key provisions include increasing the number of members on most governing boards to 18, extending their terms from four to six years, and mandating the inclusion of voting faculty, staff, and student representatives on these boards. The bill also modifies the procedures for gubernatorial appointments and confirmation by the General Assembly, and establishes new duties for governing boards and their individual members, emphasizing their responsibility to advance institutional and Commonwealth interests, maintain ideological and partisan neutrality, and protect academic freedom and freedom of speech. Furthermore, it clarifies that public institutions of higher education will now be primarily responsible for hiring their own legal counsel, though the Attorney General can still provide services upon request or in specific circumstances, and requires institutions to report annually on their use of outside legal services. The bill also revises the appointment process for the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), the state agency responsible for coordinating higher education.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Incorporated by Education (HB1385-Franklin, L.V.) (Voice Vote) (on 02/11/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB780 |
| Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB780) | https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1131946.PDF |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB780/text/HB780 |
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