WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SB 695

School Boards; employment of school resource officers, enhanced retirement benefits.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Emily Jordan

Virginia bill to employ school resource officers and enhance their retirement benefits was blocked over fiscal concerns in committee.

Passed by indefinitely in Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 4-N)
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 695

Legislative bill overview

SB 695 addresses the employment of school resource officers (SROs) in Virginia schools and establishes enhanced retirement benefits for these officers. The bill passed out of the Education and Health Committee but was ultimately killed indefinitely in the Finance and Appropriations Committee, suggesting fiscal concerns were the primary obstacle to passage.

Why is this important

School resource officers play a contentious role in student safety and school discipline, making their employment terms a matter of significant debate. Enhanced retirement benefits represent a meaningful cost to state budgets and affect the recruitment and retention of SROs, impacting both school safety policies and government spending priorities.

Potential points of contention

  • Fiscal burden: The Finance and Appropriations Committee's 10-4 vote to kill the bill indefinitely indicates concern about the cost of enhanced retirement benefits, which could strain education budgets or require reallocation of funds
  • SRO effectiveness and appropriate scope: Ongoing national debate about whether armed officers in schools improve safety or contribute to student criminalization and disparate discipline outcomes
  • Retirement benefit equity: Questions about whether SROs warrant enhanced benefits compared to other school staff or public employees, and whether this creates unsustainable long-term pension obligations

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

Sign in to ask a question.