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HB 947

Virginia Youth Empowerment and Mentoring Grant Fund and Program; created and established.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Alex Askew

Virginia establishes a new Youth Empowerment and Mentoring Grant Fund to allocate state resources for expanding youth mentoring programs statewide.

Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB947)
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Bill Summary · HB 947

Legislative bill overview

HB 947 creates a new Youth Empowerment and Mentoring Grant Fund and Program in Virginia, establishing a dedicated funding mechanism to support youth mentoring initiatives. The bill allocates state resources to develop and expand mentoring programs targeting young people across the commonwealth.

Why is this important

Mentoring programs have documented positive effects on youth outcomes, including improved academic performance, reduced behavioral issues, and better long-term economic prospects. This legislation formalizes state investment in youth development infrastructure, potentially addressing documented gaps in mentoring access for underserved communities.

Potential points of contention

  • Fiscal burden: The Department of Planning and Budget's fiscal impact statement (filed 01-27-2026) will clarify whether this requires new appropriations or redirects existing funding—a critical factor in legislative support
  • Program administration: Questions about which agencies manage the fund, how grants are distributed, and performance metrics for measuring program effectiveness remain unclear from available information
  • Target population specificity: The bill's language doesn't specify which youth populations receive priority (by geography, income level, risk factors), potentially creating disagreement over resource allocation

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

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