Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session
Virginia HB 653
Excused student absences; visitation of immediate family members on active duty military, etc.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Hillary Pugh Kent (Republican)
Summary
Official abstract published by the Virginia legislature· SUMMARY AS PASSED
Excused student absences for visitation of immediate family members in connection with deployment. Allots five excused absences to any student whose immediate family member is active duty military and has received orders for, is on leave from, or has recently returned from deployment outside the United States for the purpose of visitation with such family member, provided that the student provides written documentation verifying such leave or deployment if requested by the local school division.
Text versions
- Introduced
- Education Amendment
- K-12 Subcommittee Subcommittee Amendment
- Education Substitute
- Education and Health Amendment
- Senate Amendment
- Enrolled
- Chaptered
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 8:04 PM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 4, 2026 House | H VOTE: | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Mar 2, 2026 Senate | Passage R | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 27, 2026 Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 26, 2026 Senate | Reported from Education and Health with amendment | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 6, 2026 House | H VOTE: | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 2, 2026 House | Reported from Education with substitute | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Feb 2, 2026 House | Reported from Education with substitute | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
| Jan 27, 2026 House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) | pass | Set your home in Virginia to see |
Actions
- Apr 6, 2026
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0193) - Apr 6, 2026
Approved by Governor-Chapter 193 (effective 7/1/2026) - Mar 14, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 - Mar 14, 2026 · House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026 - Mar 12, 2026 · House
Signed by Speaker - Mar 11, 2026 · Senate
Signed by President - Mar 11, 2026 · House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB653) - Mar 11, 2026 · House
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB653ER) - Mar 11, 2026 · House
Enrolled - Mar 4, 2026 · House
Senate amendment agreed to by House (95-Y 0-N 0-A) - Mar 2, 2026 · Senate
Passed Senate with amendment Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) - Mar 2, 2026 · Senate
Engrossed by Senate as amended - Mar 2, 2026 · Senate
Committee amendment agreed to (Voice Vote) - Mar 2, 2026 · Senate
Read third time - Feb 27, 2026 · Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) - Feb 27, 2026 · Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A) - Feb 27, 2026 · Senate
Rules suspended - Feb 26, 2026 · Senate
Reported from Education and Health with amendment (15-Y 0-N) - Feb 26, 2026 · Senate
Senate committee offered - Feb 19, 2026 · Senate
Assigned Education sub: Public Education - Feb 9, 2026 · Senate
Referred to Committee on Education and Health - Feb 9, 2026 · Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) - Feb 9, 2026 · House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB653) - Feb 6, 2026 · House
Read third time and passed House (94-Y 2-N 0-A) - Feb 5, 2026 · House
Engrossed by House - committee substitute - Feb 5, 2026 · House
committee substitute agreed to - Feb 5, 2026 · House
Read second time - Feb 4, 2026 · House
Read first time - Feb 2, 2026 · House
Committee substitute printed 26106668D-H1 - Feb 2, 2026 · House
Reported from Education with substitute (21-Y 1-N) - Feb 2, 2026 · House
Reported from Education with substitute (13-Y 2-N) - Feb 2, 2026 · House
House committee offered - Jan 29, 2026 · House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB653) - Jan 27, 2026 · House
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (8-Y 2-N) - Jan 27, 2026 · House
House subcommittee offered - Jan 23, 2026 · House
Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee - Jan 13, 2026 · House
Referred to Committee on Education - Jan 13, 2026 · House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104899D