{"id":4964,"date":"2026-03-28T07:12:59","date_gmt":"2026-03-28T07:12:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globalnewstoday.uk\/index.php\/2026\/03\/28\/after-virginia-legislative-session-bills-to-impact-higher-education-await-spanbergers-approval-the-cavalier-daily\/"},"modified":"2026-03-28T07:12:59","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T07:12:59","slug":"after-virginia-legislative-session-bills-to-impact-higher-education-await-spanbergers-approval-the-cavalier-daily","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalnewstoday.uk\/index.php\/2026\/03\/28\/after-virginia-legislative-session-bills-to-impact-higher-education-await-spanbergers-approval-the-cavalier-daily\/","title":{"rendered":"After Virginia legislative session, bills to impact higher education await Spanberger\u2019s approval – The Cavalier Daily"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Virginia General Assembly adjourned<\/a> March 14 after advancing several pieces of legislation concerning higher education, including proposals that would reshape university governance and campus policy for the University and across the state. Proposals include changes to university governance boards, free speech on campus and federal immigration enforcement activity. 
Following the session\u2019s conclusion, Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) has<\/a> 30 days to sign, veto or recommend amendments to legislation that both the House and Senate passed, according to Virginia law. If Spanberger takes no action within the 30 days, the legislation will automatically become law and come into effect July 1.
HB 1385 and SB 494<\/b>
A bill that has not been fully passed \u2014 but a conference report has been agreed upon by both the House and Senate \u2014 is House Bill 1385<\/a> and its Senate equivalent, Senate Bill 494<\/a>. Del. Lily Franklin (D-41) introduced HB 1385 Jan. 21, and Sen. Creigh Deeds (D-11) and Sen. Scott Surovell (D-34) introduced the Senate bill Jan. 13.
Both \u201cidentical\u201d bills will likely be amended then either signed or vetoed by Spanberger, according to Claire Gasta\u00f1aga, former chief deputy attorney general of Virginia. In cases of similar bills, the legislature will continue to modify the legislation before consolidation into one bill to be sent to Spanberger.
HB 1385 and SB 494 \u2014 if passed \u2014 would have significant effects on the way university governing boards will function at Virginia\u2019s public universities. HB 1385 and SB 494 require each university\u2019s governing board to adopt formal policies defining and implementing shared governance. These policies must clarify how authority and responsibilities are distributed among different groups within the institution, including administrators and faculty. The requirement applies to all public higher education institutions that award baccalaureates. 
The legislation does not require a specific model of shared governance but instead asks that institutions define their own policies. 
\u201c[The bill requires the governing board of each public institution of higher education to] adopt policies defining and implementing shared governance among the components of such institution’s organizational structure,\u201d SB 494 reads.
SB 494 was introduced in the Virginia Senate Jan. 13 after<\/a> federal pressure on the University in the form of the Trump administration\u2019s proposed \u201cCompact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education\u201d and the resignation<\/a> of former University President Jim Ryan in June. Gasta\u00f1aga said the bill reinforces that the Board of Visitors acts in the interest of the Commonwealth, with the aim of limiting the influence of external federal pressure. 
\u201c[The Board seems] to be acting in the interest of the federal government \u2026 It was not clear that they understood that they were supposed to advocate for U.Va. [and] that they had a duty of loyalty to the institution,\u201d Gasta\u00f1aga said.   
Deeds similarly expressed that SB 494 was in response to the Board\u2019s involvement with Ryan\u2019s resignation and cooperation with the federal government. 
\u201c[The legislation is] pretty critical to me because I think what we saw with the last governor, unlike any governor before, [was] all partisan boards and [members] that saw their loyalty to the governor overriding their loyalty to the school and higher education,\u201d Deeds said.
HB 1385 and SB 494 also include changes to the University\u2019s legal counsel by allowing boards of higher education institutions to hire additional or private legal counsel to \u201cprotect the interests of the institution.” However, according to Gasta\u00f1aga, the bill may look very different by the time it is passed and signed off on by Spanberger. 
\u201cBetween now and April, everybody will be \u2026 suggesting to the governor different amendments,\u201d Gasta\u00f1aga said. \u201cSo the bills can change pretty significantly between now and when they come back to the bodies at the reconvene session.\u201d
The University has a shared-governance model in which organizations such as the Faculty Senate and Student Council work to advise<\/a> the University President and Board, and to protect<\/a> and improve the student rights at the University. Additionally, the Board has both a non-voting student representative and faculty representative.  
Gasta\u00f1aga explained that most boards of institutions \u2014 both nonprofit and otherwise \u2014 have, generally, three fiduciary responsibilities \u2014 a duty of loyalty to the institution, a duty of care and a duty of obedience to the law and their board\u2019s own governing documents. Currently, the legislation regarding governing boards at public higher education institutions in Virginia outlines a duty to the institution, but it does not outline a duty to the people. According to Gasta\u00f1aga, clarification as to who the Board serves is necessary in situations where there are multiple parties involved. 
\u201c[The Board has] two duties. One is first to the institution, and the second is to the people of the Commonwealth,\u201d Gasta\u00f1aga said. \u201cYou’re acknowledging their corporate entity and state agencies. So they are subject to the control of the General Assembly.\u201d
Another provision of HB 1385 and SB 494 would extend governing Board members\u2019 terms from four years to six years and require a minimum two-year gap before an individual can be reappointed to the same board.
SB 351<\/b>
Another bill that is awaiting action by Spanberger is Senate Bill 351<\/a>, which would limit certain federal immigration enforcement activities in designated \u201cprotected areas.\u201d SB 351 passed the State Senate Feb. 3 and the House March 4, and it was introduced Jan. 13 by Sen. Saddam Salim (D-37), Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-38), Deeds, former Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-39), Sen. Stella Pekarsky (D-36) and Sen. Mamie Locke (D-23). The bill has been sent to Spanberger to either sign, amend or veto it. 
The legislation prohibits \u201ccertain federal civil immigration enforcement activities\u201d in locations such as public schools and hospitals \u2014 including public universities \u2014 without a judicial warrant or subpoena. It also prevents state and local employees from allowing immigration enforcement activities in these spaces without authorization.
Charlottesville City Council has already condemned<\/a> the actions of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in public spaces such as schools and hospitals, and the Council recently passed<\/a> a resolution that condemns ICE\u2019s actions and states that local officials will not assess federal agents without proper legal authority.  
For public colleges and universities, the bill would require institutions to notify students, faculty and staff when immigration enforcement officials are present on campus and adopt policies restricting enforcement officials\u2019 access to nonpublic campus areas without a judicial warrant. The bill additionally restricts immigration enforcement-related activity near polling places and election-related sites and establishes new requirements for conducting civil arrests in courthouses. 
\u201cThe bill requires that any judicial warrant or judicial order authorizing the civil arrest be reviewed by a designated judicial officer or attorney before a civil arrest pursuant to such warrant or order can be performed,\u201d the bill reads. \u201cThe bill provides that any person who conducts a civil arrest, or facilitates or assists with the performance of, a civil arrest in violation of the provisions of the bill shall be punished with contempt of court.\u201d
HB 1374<\/b>
Lawmakers are also considering future changes to university governance through House Bill 1374<\/a>, which was introduced in the House Jan. 20 by Del. Michael Feggans (D-97), Del. Laura Jane Cohen (D-15), Del. Atoosa Reaser (D-27) and Del. Virgil Thornton (D-86). 
The legislation would revise the composition of Virginia Military Institute\u2019s Board, if reintroduced to the State Senate floor next year. The bill passed the House this session, but it will not become law this year \u2014 it must be reintroduced next year. 
Under this new legislation, VMI\u2019s Board will remain at 17 members, with 16 appointed by the governor and the Adjutant General serving as a nonvoting member. Although the number of members remains the same, HB 1374 reduces the number of alumni allowed on the Board from 12 to eight and increases the number of nonalumni members from four to six, all of whom must be Virginia residents. The bill also requires that at least five members have prior U.S. military experience at a senior rank. 
HB 1473<\/b>
Other bills pertaining to higher education did not progress successfully, including House Bill 1473<\/a> \u2014 a bill pertaining to free speech \u2014 which failed to reach the House floor and did not cross to the State Senate. The bill was introduced Jan. 23 by Del. Charles Schmidt (D-77).
The House Education Committee removed the bill from further consideration in the current session and carried over the bill to the next session. The bill would have placed new limits on how Virginia\u2019s public institutions of higher education can regulate free speech, particularly in outdoor campus spaces. The bill would have required that any restrictions on speech be content-neutral, narrowly tailored and justified by significant public interest, such as preventing substantial disruption to the educational environment. 
The legislation would have prohibited schools from requiring prior approval for students to assemble outdoors, restricted \u201cexpressive activity\u201d to \u201cdesignated zones\u201d and banned amplified sound during daytime outdoor assemblies. It also would have prevented institutions from punishing students academically \u2014 such as withholding a degree \u2014 solely for participating in protests or assemblies. 
Currently, University policy allows<\/a> for protests during official ceremonies in the Academical Village but places \u201creasonable time, place and manner restrictions\u201d to prevent disruption. Protests are restricted to designated areas, and cannot block movement nor use sound amplification. 
Additionally, HB 1473 would have limited how long universities can retain disciplinary records related to participation in assemblies, capping it at one year. Currently, student disciplinary records which reflect a finding of guilt are retained<\/a> for 20 years. If a school does restrict or deem student speech unlawful, it would have had to submit a report to state lawmakers within 45 days explaining the justification and how the restriction meets the bill\u2019s legal standards. 
While the bill ultimately failed, first-year College student Katie Watson nonetheless emphasized the importance of having free speech protections for students on Grounds, noting that limited transportation options make it difficult for first-year students to leave Grounds to attend protests. 
\u201cI am very pro allowing students to express their opinions through [peaceful assembly],\u201d Watson said. \u201cI think that, especially in a situation where you can’t get off of campus necessarily, it’s an unfair burden on an individual’s First Amendment rights to limit them in some of the ways that universities have historically.\u201d
The Virginia General Assembly is scheduled to reconvene April 22 to consider Spanberger\u2019s recommendations and vetoes regarding legislation.
Vice Rector Victoria Harker immediately moved the committee into closed session to begin the interview process for the student representative position. 
According to his close friends, colleagues and family members, he will be remembered for his commitment to the communities which he was involved in and for going above and beyond in everything he did, from his scientific discoveries to his care for the people around him.
According to Thomas Ackleson, Committee chair and fourth-year Engineering student, the Committee aims to resolve as many honor cases as reasonably possible without compromising the integrity of the sanctioning process.
On this episode of On Record, we sit down with Ava Wolsborn, University Dance Club vice president and third-year College student. Wolsborn discusses the importance of inclusivity, accessibility and sisterhood within the club. Additionally, she highlights UDC\u2019s upcoming showcase in April. <\/p>\n

source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Virginia General Assembly adjourned March 14 after advancing several pieces of legislation concerning higher education, including proposals that would reshape university governance and campus policy for the University and across the state. Proposals include changes to university governance boards, free speech on campus and federal immigration enforcement activity. Following the session\u2019s conclusion, Gov. Abigail Spanberger […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4965,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-4964","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-politics"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalnewstoday.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4964","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalnewstoday.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalnewstoday.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnewstoday.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnewstoday.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4964"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/globalnewstoday.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4964\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnewstoday.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4965"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/globalnewstoday.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4964"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnewstoday.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4964"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globalnewstoday.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4964"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}