Virginia student tuition and mandatory fees; two-year freeze.

A BILL to amend and reenact §
23.1-1301
of the Code of Virginia, relating to public institutions of higher education; undergraduate Virginia student tuition and mandatory fees; two-year freeze.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §
23.1-1301
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§
23.1-1301
. Governing boards; powers.

A. The board of visitors of each baccalaureate public institution of higher education or its designee may:

1. Make regulations and policies concerning the institution;

2. Manage the funds of the institution and approve an annual budget;

3. Appoint the chief executive officer of the institution;

4. Appoint professors and fix their salaries; and

5. Fix the rates charged to students for tuition, mandatory fees, and other necessary charges
, provided that
the tuition and mandatory fees charged to
undergraduate
Virginia students at each public institution of higher education shall be capped at the rate charged to such students for the first academic term of the 20
25–2026
academic year
.

B. The governing board of each public institution of higher education or its designee may:

1. In addition to the powers set forth in Restructured Higher Education Financial and Administrative Operations Act (§
23.1-1000
et seq.), lease or sell and convey its interest in any real property that it has acquired by purchase, will, or deed of gift, subject to the prior approval of the Governor and any terms and conditions of the will or deed of gift, if applicable. The proceeds shall be held, used, and administered in the same manner as all other gifts and bequests;

2. Grant easements for roads, streets, sewers, waterlines, electric and other utility lines, or other purposes on any property owned by the institution;

3. Adopt regulations or institution policies for parking and traffic on property owned, leased, maintained, or controlled by the institution;

4. Adopt regulations or institution policies for the employment and dismissal of professors, teachers, instructors, and other employees;

5. Adopt regulations or institution policies for the acceptance and assistance of students in addition to the regulations or institution policies required pursuant to §
23.1-1303
;

6. Adopt regulations or institution policies for the conduct of students in attendance and for the rescission or restriction of financial aid, suspension, and dismissal of students who fail or refuse to abide by such regulations or policies;

7. Establish programs, in cooperation with the Council and the Office of the Attorney General, to promote (i) student compliance with state laws on the use of alcoholic beverages and (ii) the awareness and prevention of sexual crimes committed upon students;

8. Establish guidelines for the initiation or induction of students into any social fraternity or sorority in accordance with the prohibition against hazing as defined in §
18.2-56
;

9. Assign any interest it possesses in intellectual property or in materials in which the institution claims an interest, provided such assignment is in accordance with the terms of the institution's intellectual property policies adopted pursuant to §
23.1-1303
. The Governor's prior written approval is required for transfers of such property (i) developed wholly or predominantly through the use of state general funds, exclusive of capital assets and (ii)(a) developed by an employee of the institution acting within the scope of his assigned duties or (b) for which such transfer is made to an entity other than (1) the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Investment Authority, (2) an entity whose purpose is to manage intellectual properties on behalf of nonprofit organizations, colleges, and universities, or (3) an entity whose purpose is to benefit the respective institutions. The Governor may attach conditions to these transfers as he deems necessary. In the event the Governor does not approve such transfer, the materials shall remain the property of the respective institutions and may be used and developed in any manner permitted by law;

10. Conduct closed meetings pursuant to §§
2.2-3711
and
2.2-3712
and conduct business through electronic communication means pursuant to §
2.2-3708.3
; and

11. Adopt a resolution to require the governing body of a locality that is contiguous to the institution to enforce state statutes and local ordinances with respect to offenses occurring on the property of the institution. Upon receipt of such resolution, the governing body of such locality shall enforce statutes and local ordinances with respect to offenses occurring on the property of the institution.

2. That the provisions of this act shall expire on July 1, 2028.