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Bill

HB 1038

Virginia Student Environmental Literacy Plan Grant Fund and Program; created and established.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Betsy Carr

Virginia establishes student environmental literacy grant fund to support school-based environmental education programs statewide.

Assigned HAPP sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources
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Bill Summary · HB 1038

Legislative bill overview

HB 1038 establishes a new grant fund and program in Virginia to support student environmental literacy initiatives. The bill creates a dedicated funding mechanism for schools and educational organizations to implement environmental education programs and curriculum enhancements.

Why is this important

Environmental literacy is increasingly recognized as essential for preparing students to understand and address climate change, conservation, and sustainability challenges. The program could influence how Virginia schools integrate environmental science and environmental justice concepts into K-12 education, potentially affecting thousands of students' educational outcomes.

Potential points of contention

  • Funding source and fiscal impact: The Department of Planning and Budget's fiscal impact statement will clarify whether this requires new appropriations or reallocates existing education funds, which affects overall state budget priorities
  • Program scope and standards: Disagreement may arise over what constitutes "environmental literacy," which could range from basic ecology to more politically contentious topics like climate change policy
  • Implementation burden: Questions about whether schools have adequate capacity and teacher training to effectively implement new environmental programs without additional support beyond grant funding

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

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