WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 404

Enslaved Ancestors College Access Scholarship and Memorial Program; scholarships, administration.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Dan Helmer and 2 co-sponsors

Virginia bill establishes scholarship program for descendants of enslaved people, recognizing historical legacy while expanding higher education access through dedicated memorial funding.

Signed by Speaker
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 404

Legislative bill overview

HB 404 establishes a scholarship and memorial program in Virginia for descendants of enslaved people, providing educational access funding while creating a formal recognition of this historical legacy. The bill has passed the House and is now under review in the Committee on Education and Health.

Why is this important

This legislation addresses educational equity by creating a dedicated funding mechanism for a historically disadvantaged population while establishing institutional memory about Virginia's slavery history. The program could affect higher education access and costs for eligible descendants across the state.

Potential points of contention

  • Eligibility verification: Determining proof of descent from enslaved individuals raises practical and genealogical documentation challenges
  • Funding mechanism: Questions about whether scholarship funding comes from new appropriations or reallocation of existing education budgets
  • Scope and beneficiary criteria: Debate over which institutions qualify, scholarship amount limits, and whether benefits extend to in-state only or all applicants
  • Historical framing: Differing perspectives on whether reparative scholarships appropriately address historical wrongs versus alternative approaches to educational equity

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.