HB1085 • 2026

New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Program; eligible institutions.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to amend and reenact § 23.1-627.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Program; eligible institutions.</p>

Education Labor

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Webert
Last action: 2026-02-13
Official status: Failed
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on funding amounts or current partnerships between private technical schools and comprehensive community colleges.

New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Program Expansion

This bill changes Virginia law to include private technical schools working with comprehensive community colleges as eligible institutions for a grant program that helps students get credentials in high-demand fields.

What This Bill Does

Expands the list of eligible institutions for the New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Program to include private technical schools offering industry-recognized noncredit workforce credentials in conjunction with comprehensive community colleges.

Who It Names or Affects

Private technical schools offering industry-recognized noncredit workforce credentials in high-demand fields in partnership with comprehensive community colleges.
Students enrolled at these institutions who are working towards industry-recognized credentials in high-demand fields.

Terms To Know

Industry-recognized: A credential that shows a person has the skills needed for a job, as agreed upon by employers and industry groups.
Noncredit workforce credential: A certification or license in a high-demand field based on demonstrated knowledge and skills rather than completed coursework hours.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much funding will be available for the grant program.
It is unclear which specific private technical schools are currently partnering with comprehensive community colleges to offer these credentials.

Bill History

2026-02-13 Appropriations
Stricken from docket by Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)
2026-02-04 Higher Education
Subcommittee recommends striking from the docket (7-Y 0-N)
2026-01-28 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1085)
2026-01-22 Higher Education
Assigned HAPP sub: Higher Education
2026-01-14 House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104126D
2026-01-14 Appropriations
Referred to Committee on Appropriations

Official Summary Text

New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Program; eligible institutions.
Includes private technical schools offering industry-recognized noncredit workforce credentials in high-demand fields in conjunction with comprehensive community colleges as institutions that are eligible to participate in and receive reimbursement for student program completion and credential attainment pursuant to the New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Program.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

A BILL to amend and reenact §
23.1-627.1
of the Code of Virginia, relating to New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Program; eligible institutions.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §
23.1-627.1
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§
23.1-627.1
. Definitions.

As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Board" means the Virginia Board of Workforce Development.

"Competency-based" means awarded on the basis of demonstrated knowledge and skills rather than completion of instructional hours or participation in an instructional course or program.

"Council" means the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

"Eligible institution" means a comprehensive community college,

a private technical school offering
industry-recognized
noncredit workforce credential
s in high-demand fields in conjunction with a comprehensive community college,
the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, New College Institute, Richard Bland College, Roanoke Higher Education Center, Southern Virginia Higher Education Center, or Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center.

"Eligible student" means any Virginia student enrolled at an eligible institution who is domiciled in the Commonwealth as provided in §
23.1-500
, as determined by the eligible institution.

"Fund" means the New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Fund.

"Grant" means a New Economy Workforce Credential Grant.

"High-demand field" means a discipline or field in which there is a shortage of skilled workers to fill current job vacancies or anticipated additional job openings.

"Industry-recognized" means demonstrating competency or proficiency in the technical and occupational skills identified as necessary for performing functions of an occupation based on standards developed or endorsed by employers and industry organizations.

"Noncredit workforce credential" means a competency-based, industry-recognized, portable, and third-party-validated certification or occupational license in a high-demand field.

"Noncredit workforce training program" means a program at an eligible institution that leads to an occupation or a cluster of occupations in a high-demand field, which program may include the attainment of a noncredit workforce credential. "Noncredit workforce training program" may include a program that receives funding pursuant to the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006, P.L.
109-270
. "Noncredit workforce training program" shall not include certificates of completion.

"Portable" means recognized by multiple employers or educational institutions and, where appropriate, across geographic areas.

"Program" means the New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Program.

"Third-party-validated" means having an external process in place for determining validity and relevance in the workplace and for continuous alignment of demonstrated knowledge and skills with industry workforce needs.