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Bill

SB 286

State Government Internship Coordinator; Department of Human Resource Management to appoint.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lashrecse Aird and 1 co-sponsor

Virginia must appoint a State Government Internship Coordinator to centralize and oversee state internship programs across agencies.

Approved by Governor-Chapter 787 (effective 7/1/2026)
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Bill Summary · SB 286

Legislative bill overview

SB 286 requires Virginia's Department of Human Resource Management to appoint a dedicated State Government Internship Coordinator position. This coordinator would oversee and manage internship programs across state government agencies, creating a centralized point of contact for internship administration.

Why is this important

Internships are critical pathways for young professionals entering the workforce and for state government to recruit future talent. A dedicated coordinator could standardize internship practices across agencies, improve student access to opportunities, and potentially increase diversity in state hiring pipelines. This addresses fragmentation that currently exists when internship programs are managed individually by each agency.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and fiscal impact: The bill requires a new state position with associated salary and benefits; the Fiscal Impact Statement suggests costs, though specifics depend on salary level and implementation
  • Scope of authority: Unclear whether the coordinator has mandatory authority over agencies or advisory role only, which affects actual impact on standardization
  • Existing redundancy: Some agencies already manage robust internship programs; a new coordinator position may be seen as bureaucratic overhead rather than necessary infrastructure

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

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