Virginia bill mandating FAFSA action for high school seniors advances through legislature

A measure advanced by State Del. JJ Singh is set to require every Virginia high school senior to complete federal student financial aid paperwork or opt out in writing before graduation, according to the Virginia State House.

The legislation passed both houses and was officially enrolled as of March 30, 2026, securing a 61-35 vote in the House and 21-19 in the Senate.

Filed as HB1095 on Jan. 14, 2026, during the regular session, the bill’s summary from the state legislature states: “High school students; completion of certain applications for student financial aid required.”

Below is our summary, guided by the official bill text, to clarify its main requirements.

This bill directs that before graduation, each high school senior in Virginia, or the parent if the student is underage, must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or Virginia Alternative Student Aid form, verifying submission in writing to the school board, or formally opt out in writing on a state-created form. The Department of Education is responsible for providing and prominently posting the opt-out form online. School boards are permitted, after making reasonable attempts to collect the required documentation, to exempt students who do not submit a confirmation or opt-out form.

On the House side, the bill received support from 60 Democrats and one Republican, with two Democrats and 33 Republicans voting against.

In the Senate, 21 Democrats backed the measure while all 19 Republicans voted in opposition.

The bill was sponsored by Del. JJ Singh (Democrat-26th District), Del. Nicole Cole (Democrat-66th District), and Del. John Chilton McAuliff (Democrat-30th District).

Singh, a University of Virginia graduate (BA, 2002), also earned a degree from Harvard Business School in 2010.

Singh—a Democrat—was elected to the Virginia State House in 2025 for the 26th House district, succeeding prior representative Kannan Srinivasan.

In Virginia, the legislative process starts with a bill’s introduction in either chamber. The bill is assigned to committees for review and possible amendment before being debated and voted on by both houses. If both chambers approve, the measure goes to the governor, who may sign, veto or allow it to become law without a signature. The Virginia General Assembly meets annually in a regular session starting the second Monday in January, reviewing hundreds of bills, though only some advance to law.

Information in this article was obtained from the Virginia State House. The source data can be found here.