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HB22 • 2026

VMI; removes certain authority, disciplinary immunity for certain individuals who make reports.

An Act to amend and reenact § 23.1-808 of the Code of Virginia, relating to public institutions of higher education; disciplinary immunity for certain individuals who make reports; Virginia Military Institute.

Education
Enacted

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information about annual policy updates or certification processes established by the Council and Department of Criminal Justice Services, which were included in the candidate explanation.

Virginia Military Institute; Removes Certain Authority

This act removes Virginia Military Institute's authority to include provisions in its sexual violence policy that allow for disciplinary action based on personal consumption of drugs or alcohol when reporting an act of sexual violence.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes the ability of Virginia Military Institute (VMI) to require cadets who report acts of sexual violence and disclose their own drug or alcohol use to attend counseling if VMI's superintendent believes it is a threat to well-being.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Virginia Military Institute
  • Cadets at Virginia Military Institute who report acts of sexual violence

Terms To Know

disciplinary immunity
Protection from being punished for certain actions when reporting an act of sexual violence.
superintendent
The top leader or manager at Virginia Military Institute who makes decisions about policies and rules.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify the effective date for these changes.
  • Only applies to Virginia Military Institute, not other institutions in Virginia.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-13 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 547 (effective 7/1/2026)

  2. 2026-04-13 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 547 (effective 7/1/2026)

  3. 2026-04-13 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0547)

  4. 2026-03-25 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026

  5. 2026-03-25 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  6. 2026-03-16 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB22)

  7. 2026-03-14 House

    Signed by Speaker

  8. 2026-03-14 Senate

    Signed by President

  9. 2026-03-14 House

    Enrolled

  10. 2026-03-14 House

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB22ER)

  11. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Read third time

  12. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  13. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Rules suspended

  14. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  15. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  16. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  17. 2026-03-05 Education and Health

    Reported from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)

  18. 2026-03-02 Higher Education

    Assigned Education sub: Higher Education

  19. 2026-02-11 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  20. 2026-02-11 Education and Health

    Referred to Committee on Education and Health

  21. 2026-02-10 House

    Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar

  22. 2026-02-10 House

    Read third time and passed House (94-Y 3-N 0-A)

  23. 2026-02-09 House

    Read second time and engrossed

  24. 2026-02-06 House

    Read first time

  25. 2026-02-04 Education

    Reported from Education (21-Y 0-N)

  26. 2026-02-02 Higher Education

    Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 0-N)

  27. 2026-01-30 Higher Education

    Assigned HED sub: Higher Education

  28. 2026-01-14 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB22)

  29. 2025-12-22 House

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100347D

  30. 2025-12-22 Education

    Referred to Committee on Education

Official Summary Text

Public institutions of higher education; disciplinary immunity for certain individuals who make reports; Virginia Military Institute.
Removes the authority granted to Virginia Military Institute to include in its sexual violence policy, code, rules, or set of standards a provision stipulating that in the event that a cadet discloses personal consumption of drugs or alcohol in conjunction with a good faith report of an act of sexual violence and the superintendent of Virginia Military Institute determines that such cadet's personal consumption of drugs or alcohol constitutes a threat to the cadet's well-being or the well-being of others, the superintendent may require such cadet to attend drug or substance use disorder counseling.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
An Act to amend and reenact §
23.1-808
of the Code of Virginia, relating to public institutions of higher education; disciplinary immunity for certain individuals who make reports; Virginia Military Institute.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §
23.1-808
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§
23.1-808
. Sexual violence; policy review; disciplinary immunity for certain individuals who make reports.
A. By October 31 of each year, the System, Richard Bland College, each baccalaureate public institution of higher education, and each nonprofit private institution of higher education shall certify to the Council that it has reviewed its sexual violence policy and updated it as appropriate. The Council and the Department of Criminal Justice Services shall establish criteria for the certification process and may request information relating to the policies for the purposes of sharing best practices and improving campus safety. The Council and the Department of Criminal Justice Services shall report to the Secretary of Education on the certification status of each such institution by November 30 of each year.
B. The governing board of each nonprofit private institution of higher education and each public institution of higher education
, including the Virginia Military Institute in accordance with the provisions of subsection C,
shall include as part of its policy, code, rules, or set of standards governing sexual violence a provision for immunity from disciplinary action based on (i) curfew violation or (ii) personal consumption of drugs or alcohol in any case in which disclosure of such violation or personal consumption is made in conjunction with a good faith report of an act of sexual violence.
C. The Virginia Military Institute shall be subject to the requirement in subsection B, provided, however, that the Virginia Military Institute may include a provision stipulating that in the event that a cadet discloses personal consumption of drugs or alcohol in conjunction with a good faith report of an act of sexual violence and the superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute determines that such cadet's personal consumption of drugs or alcohol constitutes a threat to the cadet's well-being or the well-being of others, the superintendent may require such cadet to attend drug or substance use disorder counseling.