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Virginia2026Enacted

HB290

Evaluating False Residency Statements for School Enrollment

Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 5:26 AM

In one sentence

This law requires the Department of Education to study how people make false statements about where their children live to enroll them in certain schools and suggest ways to improve enforcement while ensuring penalties match the seriousness of breaking residency rules.

What it does

  • The Department of Education must work with the Virginia State Crime Commission to evaluate compliance with and enforcement of laws that prohibit knowingly making false statements concerning a child's residency for school enrollment purposes.
  • They need to collect data on how often these violations occur, what penalties are imposed, and whether schools can recover tuition lost due to false statements.
  • The Department must ask school boards and public school administrators for their thoughts on the problem and possible solutions.
  • By November 1, 2026, the Department has to give a report with findings and recommendations to improve enforcement while ensuring penalties match the seriousness of violations.

Who it affects

  • The Virginia Department of Education
  • School boards and public school administrators in Virginia

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what the penalties for false statements will be.
  • It is unclear how much money schools lose due to false residency claims.
  • The exact recommendations and enforcement methods are yet to be determined by the Department of Education.

Plain language

Terms to know

Residency requirements
Rules that say a child must live in a certain area to attend schools there.
Class 4 misdemeanor
A minor crime with a small punishment, like a fine or short jail time.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill textStored full record

Official summary

Department of Education; compliance with and enforcement of prohibition on false statements as to school division or attendance zone residency; evaluation; report. Directs the Department of Education, in consultation with the Virginia State Crime Commission and such other stakeholders as the Department deems appropriate, to evaluate and make recommendations on compliance with and enforcement of the provisions of applicable law prohibiting any person from knowingly making a false statement concerning the residency of a child in a particular school division or school attendance zone for the purpose of improving the efficacy of enforcing statutory residency requirements for enrollment in a particular school division while ensuring consequences or penalties for violations of such requirements are commensurate with such violations. The bill directs the Department to submit to the Chairs of the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the House Committee on Education by November 1, 2026, a report on its findings and recommendations.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. Approved by Governor-Chapter 1110 (effective 7/1/2026)Governor
  2. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1110)Governor
  3. Communicated to GovernorHouse
  4. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026Governor
  5. Passed by for the dayHouse
  6. Passed by for the dayHouse
  7. Approved by Governor-Chapter 543 (effective 7/1/2026)Governor
  8. Governor's recommendation received by HouseGovernor
  9. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026House
  10. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026Governor
  11. Signed by SpeakerHouse
  12. Signed by PresidentSenate
  13. EnrolledHouse
  14. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB290ER)House
  15. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB290)House
  16. Senate substitute agreed to by House (82-Y 14-N 0-A)House
  17. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB290)Education and Health
  18. Read third timeSenate
  19. Engrossed by Senate - committee substituteSenate
  20. Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)Education and Health

Changes

Amendments

2 stored

HB290G

(HB246) GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION I approve the general purpose of this bill, but I am returning it without my signature with the request that the attached Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (26110415D) be accepted.

HB290H1

2026 SESSION HOUSE SUBSTITUTE 26110415D HOUSE BILL NO.