HB1041
Inmates; functional literacy prog., data sharing & tracking, Va. Prison Ed. Task Force established.
Status:
In House
Latest Action:
Feb. 10, 2026
House: Placed on Appropriations Agenda
Chief Patron:
Betsy Carr (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Introduced. Department of Corrections; functional literacy program for inmates; data sharing and tracking; salary schedules for teachers; Virginia Prison Education Task Force established; report.
Requires the Superintendent employed by the Director of Corrections to (i) include in the functional literacy program for inmates developed pursuant to applicable law evidence-based literacy instruction, as defined in accordance with applicable law; (ii) share data with (a) the state entity that oversees the management, direction, and governance of ... (More) the Commonwealth's education and workforce data for the purpose of developing educational, health, social service, and employment outcome data and improving the efficacy of state services and (b) the Virginia Community College System necessary for comprehensive community colleges to apply for and maintain eligibility as Federal Pell Grant-eligible prison education programs; and (iii) track and publicly report at least annually the number of incarcerated individuals eligible for, enrolled in, and waitlisted for the functional literacy program. The bill also establishes the Virginia Prison Education Task Force for the purpose of implementing a consistent education program across all state correctional facilities operated by the Department. The bill requires the Task Force to complete its work by July 1, 2029. Finally, the bill requires the Department of Education to, by November 1, 2026, (a) review and update the salary schedules for teachers licensed by the Board of Education and employed by the Department of Corrections to provide instruction in the schools of the correctional centers to be competitive with those in effect for the school division in which the correctional facility is located and (b) make recommendations for the inclusion of such teacher salary increases in the appropriation act. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/14/2026 - House: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104920D
- 01/14/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Public Safety
- 01/23/2026 - House: Assigned HMPPS sub: Subcommittee #2
- 01/27/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1041)
- 01/27/2026 - House: Placed on Public Safety Agenda
- 01/29/2026 - House: House subcommittee offered
- 01/29/2026 - House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 0-N)
- 01/29/2026 - House: Placed on Public Safety Agenda
- 01/30/2026 - House: Reported from Public Safety with substitute and referred to Appropriations (21-Y 0-N)
- 01/30/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations
- 01/30/2026 - House: Committee substitute printed 26105898D-H1
- 01/30/2026 - House: Assigned HAPP sub: Transportation & Public Safety
- 02/03/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1041)
- 02/05/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1041)
- 02/10/2026 - House: Placed on Appropriations Agenda
