HB125 • 2026

Public school teachers; reemployment of teacher who has not received continuing contract status.

Education

Enacted

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

Sponsor: Reaser
Last action: 2026-04-13
Official status: Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Public school teachers; reemployment of teacher who has not received continuing contract status.

Public school teachers; terms of employment; reemployment of teacher who has received continuing contract status; written notice required.

What This Bill Does

Public school teachers; terms of employment; reemployment of teacher who has received continuing contract status; written notice required.
Requires written notice of noncontinuation of a continuing teacher contract to be given by the teacher by June 15 of each year; otherwise, the contract continues in effect for the ensuing year in conformity with local salary stipulations, including increments.
Current law requires such written notice of noncontinuation of a continuing teacher contract to be given by either the teacher or the school board by June 15 of each year.
This bill is identical to SB 117.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB125AC

2026-03-05 • Conference

Conference Report

Plain English: JOINT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT We, the conferees, appointed by the respective bodies to consider and report upon the disagreeing vote on House Bill No.

JOINT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT We, the conferees, appointed by the respective bodies to consider and report upon the disagreeing vote on House Bill No.
125 , report as follows: We recommend that the Senate Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (26108218D) be accepted to resolve the matter under disagreement.
Respectfully submitted, Delegate Atoosa R.
Reaser (signed) Delegate John Chilton McAuliff (signed) Delegate Anne Ferrell Tata (not signed) Conferees on the part of the House Senator Stella G.

Bill History

2026-04-13 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 911 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-13 Governor
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0911)
2026-03-14 House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
2026-03-14 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-13 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-03-13 Senate
Signed by President
2026-03-13 House
Enrolled
2026-03-13 House
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB125ER)
2026-03-13 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB125)
2026-03-06 Senate
Conference report agreed to by Senate (24-Y 16-N 0-A)
2026-03-06 House
Conference report agreed to by House (62-Y 34-N 1-A)
2026-03-05 Conference
Conference Report released
2026-03-05 Conference
Conference Report released
2026-03-04 Senate
Conferees appointed by Senate
2026-03-04 Senate
Senate Conferees: Pekarsky, Craig, VanValkenburg
2026-03-04 House
Conferees appointed by House
2026-03-04 House
House Conferees: Reaser, McAuliff, Tata
2026-03-02 House
House acceded to request
2026-02-27 Senate
Senate requested conference committee
2026-02-27 Senate
Senate insisted on substitute Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-25 House
Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 97-N 0-A)
2026-02-23 Senate
Read third time
2026-02-23 Senate
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
2026-02-23 Senate
Engrossed by Senate
2026-02-23 Education and Health
Education and Health Substitute agreed to
2026-02-23 Senate
Passed Senate with substitute (27-Y 11-N 0-A)
2026-02-22 Education and Health
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB125)
2026-02-20 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-02-20 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-02-20 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-02-20 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-20 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-19 Education and Health
Reported from Education and Health with substitute (12-Y 0-N 2-A)
2026-02-19 Senate
Senate committee offered
2026-02-19 Education and Health
Committee substitute printed 26108218D-S1
2026-02-16 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-16 Education and Health
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
2026-02-13 House
Read third time and passed House (60-Y 34-N 0-A)
2026-02-12 House
Read second time and engrossed
2026-02-11 House
Read first time
2026-02-09 Education
Reported from Education (15-Y 6-N)
2026-02-04 Early Childhood and Innovation
Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 1-N)
2026-01-23 Early Childhood and Innovation
Assigned HED sub: Early Childhood and Innovation
2026-01-09 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB125)
2026-01-02 House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100316D
2026-01-02 Education
Referred to Committee on Education

Official Summary Text

Public school teachers; terms of employment; reemployment of teacher who has received continuing contract status; written notice required.
Requires written notice of noncontinuation of a continuing teacher contract to be given by the teacher by June 15 of each year; otherwise, the contract continues in effect for the ensuing year in conformity with local salary stipulations, including increments. Current law requires such written notice of noncontinuation of a continuing teacher contract to be given by either the teacher or the school board by June 15 of each year. This bill is identical to SB 117.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

An Act to amend and reenact §
22.1-304
of the Code of Virginia, relating to public elementary and secondary schools; teachers; terms of employment; reemployment of teacher who has received continuing contract status; written notice required.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §
22.1-304
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§
22.1-304
. Reemployment of teacher who has not achieved continuing contract status; effect of continuing contract; resignation of teacher; reduction in number of teachers.
A. If a teacher who has not achieved continuing contract status receives notice of reemployment, he must accept or reject in writing within 15 days of receipt of such notice. Except as provided in §
22.1-305
and except in the case of a reduction in force as provided in subsection F, written notice of nonrenewal of the probationary contract must be given by the school board on or before June 15 of each year. If no such notice is given a teacher by June 15, the teacher shall be entitled to a contract for the ensuing year in accordance with local salary stipulations including increments.
B. Teachers employed after completing the probationary period shall be entitled to continuing contracts during good behavior and competent service. Written notice of noncontinuation of the contract by
either party
the teacher
must be given by June 15 of each year; otherwise
,
the contract continues in effect for the ensuing year in conformity with local salary stipulations including increments.
C. A teacher may resign after June 15 of any school year with the approval of the local school board or, upon authorization by the school board, with the approval of the division superintendent. The teacher shall request release from contract at least two weeks in advance of intended date of resignation. Such request shall be in writing and shall set forth the cause of resignation.
If the division superintendent has been authorized to approve resignations, a teacher may, within one week, withdraw a request to resign. Upon the expiration of the one-week period, the division superintendent shall notify the school board of his decision to accept or reject the resignation. The school board, within two weeks, may reverse the decision of the division superintendent.
In the event that the board or the division superintendent declines to grant the request for release on the grounds of insufficient or unjustifiable cause, and the teacher breaches such contract, disciplinary action, which may include written reprimand, suspension, or revocation of the teacher's license, may be taken pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Board of Education.
D. As soon after June 15 as the school budget shall have been approved by the appropriating body, the school board shall furnish each teacher a statement confirming continuation of employment, setting forth assignment and salary.
Nothing in the continuing contract shall be construed to authorize the school board to contract for any financial obligation beyond the period for which funds have been made available with which to meet such obligation.
E. A school board may reduce the number of teachers, whether or not such teachers have reached continuing contract status, because of decrease in enrollment or abolition of particular subjects.
F. Within two weeks of the approval of the school budget by the appropriating body, but no later than July 1, school boards shall notify all teachers who may be subject to a reduction in force due to a decrease in the school board's budget as approved by the appropriating body.
G. If a school board implements a reduction in workforce pursuant to this section, such reduction shall not be made solely on the basis of seniority but must include consideration of, among other things, the performance evaluations of the teachers potentially affected by the reduction in workforce.