The Virginia General Assembly is considering a massive bill in an attempt to codify provisions of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and update state law regarding special education.
SB 678 submitted by Patrons Pekarsky and Hashmi was heard by the Senate Health and Education Committee on 1/29/26. At this Committee, the bill was postponed for consideration until next week.
Currently, students with disabilities are protected under federal law by IDEA and Section 504 of the the Rehabilitation Act. These laws are designed to give students with disabilities access to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). This allows for services and accommodations in educational settings to ensure students with disabilities receive an equitable education to students without disabilities. This bill is intended to implement state law to address this issue.
dLCV is anxious to learn the outcome of this legislation as it could have an impact on the protections that students with disabilities have and services they are entitled to received.
The mission of the disAbility Law Center of Virginia is to advance independence, choice and self-determination; protect legal, human and civil rights; and eliminate abuse, neglect and discrimination of people with disabilities through zealous and uncompromising legal advocacy and representation.
There are hundreds of bills currently before the 2026 legislature. dLCV is looking for volunteers to help sort through them to identify proposals that might impact people with disabilities. If you are interested in serving as a Bill Reviewer, please email ga@dlcv.org with “Bill Reviewer” in the subject line. A member of our team will follow up with the next steps.