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SB568 • 2026

Public schools; student instruction, addictive potential of time spent using certain electr. device.

An Act to amend and reenact § 22.1-206 of the Code of Virginia, relating to public schools; student instruction; addictive potential of time spent using certain electronic devices.

Education
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Sturtevant
Last action
2026-04-06
Official status
Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text does not provide specific details on how schools should implement the required instruction.

Schools Must Teach About Screen Time Risks

This law requires Virginia's public schools to teach students about the risks of spending too much time on electronic devices, including how these devices can be addictive.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds a new requirement for public schools in Virginia to provide instruction concerning the addictive potential of using electronic devices such as computers, cell phones, and other smart gadgets.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Public school students in Virginia will learn about the risks associated with excessive use of electronic devices.
  • Teachers and administrators must follow guidelines set by the Board of Education regarding this instruction.

Terms To Know

Addictive potential
The possibility that using certain things, like electronic devices, can lead to addiction or harmful behavior.
Electronic devices
Items such as computers, cell phones, and other smart gadgets that use electricity for operation.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The exact details of how schools will teach about the addictive potential of electronic device usage are not specified in the law.
  • It is unclear what specific materials or methods the Board of Education will provide to schools.

Amendments

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

SB568AHC1

2026-03-03

Education Amendment

Plain English: The amendment adds an option for schools to consider students enrolled in specific programs when deciding how to address time spent using electronic devices that may be addictive.

  • Adds a new clause (iii) after existing clauses (i) and (ii), allowing schools to apply certain rules to students who are part of special educational programs.
  • The amendment text does not specify what 'certain electronic devices' or the 'addictive potential' refers to, so these details remain unclear.
  • It is not clear from the provided information how this new clause will be implemented in practice.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 319 (effective 7/1/2026)

  2. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 319 (effective 7/1/2026)

  3. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0319)

  4. 2026-03-31 Senate

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  5. 2026-03-31 Governor

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

  6. 2026-03-31 House

    Signed by Speaker

  7. 2026-03-31 Senate

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  8. 2026-03-31 Governor

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

  9. 2026-03-31 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB568)

  10. 2026-03-30 Senate

    Signed by President

  11. 2026-03-30 Senate

    Enrolled

  12. 2026-03-30 Senate

    Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB568ER)

  13. 2026-03-11 Senate

    House substitute agreed to by Senate (36-Y 4-N 0-A)

  14. 2026-03-10 House

    Read third time

  15. 2026-03-10 House

    committee substitute agreed to

  16. 2026-03-10 House

    Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  17. 2026-03-10 House

    Passed House with substitute Block Vote (99-Y 0-N 0-A)

  18. 2026-03-09 House

    Passed by for the day

  19. 2026-03-06 House

    Read second time

  20. 2026-03-05 Education

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB568)

  21. 2026-03-04 Education

    Reported from Education with substitute (21-Y 0-N)

  22. 2026-03-04 Education

    Committee substitute printed 26109070D-H1

  23. 2026-03-03 K-12 Subcommittee

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N)

  24. 2026-03-03 K-12 Subcommittee

    House subcommittee offered

  25. 2026-03-03 K-12 Subcommittee

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB568)

  26. 2026-02-26 K-12 Subcommittee

    Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee

  27. 2026-02-20 House

    Placed on Calendar

  28. 2026-02-20 Education

    Referred to Committee on Education

  29. 2026-02-20 House

    Read first time

  30. 2026-02-16 Senate

    Read second time

  31. 2026-02-16 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  32. 2026-02-16 Senate

    Rules suspended

  33. 2026-02-16 Senate

    Blank Action

  34. 2026-02-16 Education and Health

    Education and Health Substitute agreed to

  35. 2026-02-16 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  36. 2026-02-16 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  37. 2026-02-16 Senate

    Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  38. 2026-02-13 Senate

    Rules suspended

  39. 2026-02-13 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  40. 2026-02-13 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (36-Y 0-N 0-A)

  41. 2026-02-13 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  42. 2026-02-13 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (35-Y 0-N 0-A)

  43. 2026-02-13 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  44. 2026-02-12 Education and Health

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

  45. 2026-02-12 Public Education

    Senate subcommittee offered

  46. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Senate committee offered

  47. 2026-02-12 Education and Health

    Committee substitute printed 26107469D-S1

  48. 2026-02-05 Public Education

    Assigned Education sub: Public Education

  49. 2026-01-30 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB568)

  50. 2026-01-14 Senate

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104877D

  51. 2026-01-14 Education and Health

    Referred to Committee on Education and Health

Official Summary Text

Public schools; student instruction; addictive potential of time spent using certain electronic devices.
Requires instruction concerning time spent using electronic devices such as computers, cell phones, and other smart devices and the addictive potential thereof to be provided by the public schools as prescribed by the Board of Education. This bill is identical to HB 1486.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
An Act to amend and reenact §
22.1-206
of the Code of Virginia, relating to public schools; student instruction; addictive potential of time spent using certain electronic devices.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §
22.1-206
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§
22.1-206
. Instruction concerning drugs, alcohol, substance abuse, retail tobacco products, hemp products intended for smoking, gambling, and screen time.
A. Instruction concerning drugs and drug abuse shall be provided by the public schools as prescribed by the Board of Education.
B. Instruction concerning the public safety hazards and dangers of alcohol abuse, underage drinking, and drunk driving shall be provided in the public schools. The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority shall provide educational materials to the Department of Education. The Department of Education shall review and shall distribute such materials as are approved to the public schools.
The Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth shall develop and the Department of Education shall distribute to each local school division educational materials concerning the health and safety risks of using retail tobacco products and hemp products intended for smoking, as such terms are defined in §
18.2-371.2
. Instruction concerning the health and safety risks of using tobacco products and hemp products intended for smoking, as such terms are defined in §
18.2-371.2
, shall be provided in each public elementary and secondary school in the Commonwealth, consistent with such educational materials.
C. Instruction concerning gambling and the addictive potential thereof shall be provided by the public schools as prescribed by the Board.
D. Instruction concerning time spent using electronic devices such as computers, cell phones, and other smart devices and the addictive potential thereof shall be provided by the public schools as prescribed by the Board.