K-12 Education Subcommittee advances wide slate of school bills, including local energy-drink authority and statewide SAT access
Summary
The House K-12 Education Subcommittee advanced a package of bills on Jan. 28 that would let local school boards limit caffeinated beverages, expand in-school SAT access, add health- and career-literacy requirements, and make several programmatic and procedural changes. Most measures were reported favorably and several were sent to appropriations.
Richmond — The House K-12 Education Subcommittee on Jan. 28 advanced a series of education bills ranging from a permissive ban on caffeinated energy drinks to statewide in-school SAT testing and changes to curriculum and work-based learning rules.
Delegate Austin told the panel that HB 786 "gives the local school boards the authority to prohibit energy drinks in public schools," arguing the current state regulatory framework leaves a gap on beverages in high schools. After committee members raised questions about whether the word "caffeinated" could reach common sodas used in school fundraising, counsel confirmed the bill would permit school boards to prohibit any caffeinated beverage; members then accepted clarifying language allowing a board to bar "all or any variety of caffeinated beverages." The amended bill was reported out of subcommittee on a 10–0 vote.
The committee also approved a substitute for HB 4410 to create a state-supported in-school SAT program for juniors and seniors, with the patron stressing participation gaps and financial and transportation barriers. "Doing it during the school day" and ensuring fee waivers are available, Delegate Reed said, would increase access for first-generation and low-income students. The measure was reported 9–1 and sent to the Appropriations Committee because it depends on state funding.
Several other measures drew extended discussion and were reported favorably: HB 416 would let counties reimburse school divisions for insurance costs when localities use school buses for community programs (reported 9–1); HB 382 would raise the permissive cap on extra pay for school-board chairs and vice-chairs (reported 9–1); HB 180 establishes a pilot program to fund work-based learning coordinators and requires annual reporting (reported 9–1 and referred to appropriations); HB 462 directs the Board of Education to incorporate health-care literacy into the next regularly scheduled health SOL review (reported 9–1). Many of those measures prompted technical and logistical questions from members and testimony from local school officials, county risk offices and education stakeholders.
A contested debate emerged over HB 333, a bill amending how the Jan. 6, 2021, events may be taught. Supporters said the bill simply prevents optional materials from framing the event as a "peaceful protest" or asserting extensive election fraud; Delegate Helmer said the text puts "guard rails" on false framings. Opponents called the proposal partisan or an example of mandated framing; the subcommittee reported the bill 7–3.
Other bills moved without controversy: HB 859 (technical amendments to the Virginia Farm-to-School Task Force) reported 10–0; HB 332 (dual-enrollment instructor qualification technical updates) and HB 1171 (alternative graduation pathways guidance) also reported unanimously. HB 201, requiring an annual email or text notification to guardians about safe firearm and prescription-drug storage, drew strong support from advocacy groups and was reported 7–3.
Votes at a glance
- HB 786 (energy/caffeinated beverages): amended and reported 10–0. - HB 416 (county reimbursement for school-bus insurance): reported 9–1. - HB 382 (school-board leadership pay cap update): reported 9–1. - HB 4410 (statewide in-school SAT program substitute): reported 9–1; referred to Appropriations. - HB 201 (parent notification on safe storage): reported 7–3. - HB 462 (health-care literacy into SOL revisions): reported 9–1. - HB 180 (work-based learning coordinator pilot): reported 9–1; referred to Appropriations. - HB 333 (January 6 curriculum guardrails): reported 7–3. - HB 859 (Farm-to-School Task Force technical): reported 10–0. - HB 290 (decriminalize false residency reports; civil penalty): reported 10–0; referred to Courts of Justice. - HB 653 (excused absences for students with deployed military family): reported (8–2). - HB 138 (career coach in every high school): referred to Appropriations (reported 7–3). - HB 139 (unpaid leave for association officers/buy-back of VRS credits): reported 7–3. - HB 332 (dual enrollment/qualifications substitute): reported 10–0. - HB 1171 (alternative pathways to SOLs): reported 10–0. - HB 263 (statewide library specialist at VDOE): referred to Appropriations (reported 9–1).
What happens next
Many bills that would require state funding or technical review were referred to Appropriations or additional committees; measures that were reported favorably will continue through the House process. The subcommittee adjourned after concluding the docket.
Reporting notes: quotes and vote tallies are taken directly from subcommittee remarks and roll calls as recorded in the hearing transcript. Where panels or witnesses described implementation logistics (insurance certificates, Board of Education review cycles, or appropriations contingencies), the article reports those as committee discussion or testimony rather than new findings.
