Virginia HB 939: Higher ed. institu., baccalaureate public; board of visitors of Richard Bland College, membership.

Bill Text

2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26102384D

HOUSE BILL NO. 939

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled January 13, 2026

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 23.1-1006, 23.1-1300, 23.1-1401, 23.1-1501, 23.1-1601, 23.1-1701, 23.1-1801, 23.1-1901, 23.1-2001, 23.1-2101, 23.1-2106, 23.1-2201, 23.1-2303, 23.1-2501, 23.1-2601, 23.1-2701, and 23.1-2801 of the Code of Virginia, relating to baccalaureate public institutions of higher education; Richard Bland College; boards of visitors; membership; student representative.

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Patron—Franklin, L.V.

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Referred to Committee on Education

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 23.1-1006, 23.1-1300, 23.1-1401, 23.1-1501, 23.1-1601, 23.1-1701, 23.1-1801, 23.1-1901, 23.1-2001, 23.1-2101, 23.1-2106, 23.1-2201, 23.1-2303, 23.1-2501, 23.1-2601, 23.1-2701, and 23.1-2801 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 23.1-1006. Management agreement; contents and scope.

A. Each covered institution that complies with the requirements of this article shall have the powers set forth in this article that are expressly included in the management agreement.

B. Each management agreement shall include:

1. A copy of the governing board's resolution in support of a request for restructured operational authority;

2. The institution's express agreement to reimburse the Commonwealth for any additional costs that the Commonwealth incurs to provide health or other group insurance benefits to employees and undertake any risk management program that are attributable to the institution's exercise of restructured operational authority;

3. The institution's undergraduate Virginia student enrollment, financial aid requirements and capabilities, and tuition policy for undergraduate Virginia students; and

4. A statement of the Governor's power to void the management agreement pursuant to subsection E of § 23.1-1007.

C. There is a presumption that restructured operational authority is not included in the management agreement, and such authority shall only be granted to a covered institution if it is expressly included in the management agreement. The only implied authority that is granted to a covered institution is that which is necessary to carry out the express grant of restructured operational authority. Each covered institution shall be governed and administered in the manner provided in (i) this article but subject to the expressed terms of the management agreement, (ii) the general appropriation act, and (iii) the institution's enabling statutes.

D. Except as specifically made inapplicable under this article or the express terms of a management agreement, the provisions of Title 2.2 relating generally to the operation, management, supervision, regulation, and control of public institutions of higher education are applicable to covered institutions as provided by the express terms of the management agreement.

E. In the event of a conflict between any provision of Title 2.2 and any provision of the management agreement, the provisions of the management agreement control. In the event of a conflict between any provision of this article and an institution's enabling statutes, the enabling statutes control.

F. The provisions of the State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act (§ 2.2-3100 et seq.) that are applicable to officers and employees of a state governmental agency shall continue to apply to the members of the governing board and the covered employees of a covered institution.

G. A covered institution, its officers, directors, employees, and agents, and the members of its governing board are entitled to the same sovereign immunity to which they would be entitled if the institution were not governed by this article.

H. The Virginia Tort Claims Act (§ 8.01-195.1 et seq.) and its limitations on recoveries remain applicable to covered institutions.

I. A management agreement with a public institution of higher education shall not grant restructured operational authority to the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service and Agricultural Experiment Station Division, the University of Virginia's College at Wise, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, or an affiliated entity of the institution unless the intent to grant such authority and the degree to which such authority is granted is expressly included in the management agreement.

J. For purposes of §§ 23.1-101, 23.1-102, 23.1-103, 23.1-104, and 23.1-107, Chapter 2 (§ 23.1-200 et seq.), §§ 23.1-306, 23.1-402, 23.1-403, and 23.1-404, Chapter 5 (§ 23.1-500 et seq.), Chapter 6 (§ 23.1-600 et seq.), Chapter 7 (§ 23.1-700 et seq.), §§ 23.1-800, 23.1-801, 23.1-901, and 23.1-1001, Chapter 11 (§ 23.1-1100 et seq.), Chapter 12 (§ 23.1-1200 et seq.), subsections G, and H, and I of § 23.1-1300, § 23.1-1302, and subdivision B of § 23.1-1303, each covered institution shall remain a public institution of higher education following its conversion to a covered institution governed by this article and sh