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HB1354 • 2026

Tuition Assistance Grant Program; eligible institutions.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to amend and reenact § 23.1-628 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Tuition Assistance Grant Program; eligible institutions.</p>

Education
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Walker
Last action
2026-02-18
Official status
Failed
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify the exact criteria for accreditation or funding amounts.

Tuition Assistance Grant Program; eligible institutions

This bill amends Virginia's law to include nonprofit private historically black colleges and universities in the Tuition Assistance Grant Program if they are located in Virginia and accredited by a recognized agency.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the definition of 'eligible institution' to include nonprofit private historically black colleges and universities that meet certain criteria.
  • Specifies that these institutions must be located in Virginia and accredited by a national institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Virginia students attending eligible historically black colleges and universities
  • Nonprofit private historically black colleges and universities in Virginia

Terms To Know

Eligible institution
A nonprofit private college or university that provides education and meets certain requirements to participate in the Tuition Assistance Grant Program.
Tuition Assistance Grant Program
A program that gives grants to Virginia students attending eligible institutions.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much funding will be provided for the Tuition Assistance Grants.
  • It is unclear if there are any limits on the number of historically black colleges and universities that can join the program.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-18 House

    Left in Committee Appropriations

  2. 2026-02-04 Higher Education

    Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (7-Y 0-N)

  3. 2026-01-27 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1354)

  4. 2026-01-23 Higher Education

    Assigned HAPP sub: Higher Education

  5. 2026-01-19 House

    Presented and ordered printed 26105538D

  6. 2026-01-19 Appropriations

    Referred to Committee on Appropriations

Official Summary Text

Tuition Assistance Grant Program; eligible institutions.
Declares any nonprofit private historically black college or university whose primary purpose is to provide collegiate, graduate, or professional education and not to provide religious training or theological education and that is located in the Commonwealth and accredited by a national institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to be eligible to participate in the Tuition Assistance Grant Program.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
A BILL to amend and reenact §
23.1-628
of the Code of Virginia, relating to Tuition Assistance Grant Program; eligible institutions.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §
23.1-628
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§
23.1-628
. Tuition Assistance Grant Program.

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

"Eligible institution" means a nonprofit private institution of higher education whose primary purpose is to provide collegiate, graduate, or professional education and not to provide religious training or theological education
, including
a
ny

nonprofit private historically black college or university
that is
located in the Commonwealth and accredited by a national institutional accrediting agency recognized by the
U.S.
Department of Education
.

"Grant" means a Tuition Assistance Grant.

"Principal place of business" means the single state in which the natural persons who establish policy for the direction, control, and coordination of the operations of the institution as a whole primarily exercise that function, considering the following factors: (i) the state in which the primary executive and administrative offices of the institution are located; (ii) the state in which the principal office of the chief executive officer of the institution is located; (iii) the state in which the board of trustees or similar governing board of the institution conducts a majority of its meetings; and (iv) the state from which the overall operations of the institution are directed.

"Program" means the Tuition Assistance Grant Program.

B. From such funds as may be provided for such purpose, the Tuition Assistance Grant Program is established to provide Tuition Assistance Grants to or on behalf of Virginia students who attend eligible institutions.

C. Eligible institutions admitted to this program on or after January 1, 2011, shall (i) be formed, chartered, established, or incorporated within the Commonwealth; (ii) have their principal place of business within the Commonwealth; (iii) conduct their primary educational activity within the Commonwealth; and (iv) be accredited by a nationally recognized regional accrediting agency
or, in the case of any nonprofit private historically black college or university that is located in the Commonwealth, by a national institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
.