Amy Laufer House Bill 85 on Postsecondary Transition Counselors Deferred to 2027

Sep 8, 2026, 7:30 AM ET

RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia House Committee on Education has continued House Bill 85 to the 2027 legislative session, signaling a cautious approach to expanding specialized certification programs for educators supporting students with disabilities in postsecondary transitions. Introduced by Delegate Amy Laufer on January 1, 2026, House Bill 85 directs the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to partner with the Council for Exceptional Children and its Division on Career Development and Transition, along with public higher education institutions offering education preparation programs, to create a state-specific postsecondary transition counselor certificate. This program must match the rigor and quality of the national certification offered by the division, paving the way for institutional programs to gain approval.

The bill aims to equip counselors with targeted skills to guide students, particularly those with exceptional needs, from high school into higher education and careers. Proponents highlight the potential for such certified professionals to foster greater independence and employment readiness among Virginia’s youth, aligning with longstanding priorities for accountable education investments that yield measurable outcomes in workforce participation. By mandating equivalence to established national standards, the legislation underscores a commitment to high-quality training without compromising on excellence.

On January 27, 2026, the House Education Subcommittee on Higher Education recommended continuation to 2027 by voice vote, followed by the full committee’s approval of the deferral on January 28 via the same method. This action reflects deliberate deliberation amid fiscal considerations, as the Department of Planning and Budget issued impact statements dated January 26, January 27, January 28, and January 1. Such reviews ensure proposed initiatives remain fiscally responsible, avoiding unnecessary burdens on taxpayers while scrutinizing long-term benefits.

Delegate Laufer’s measure was prefiled and ordered printed ahead of the session’s start, referred immediately to the Education Committee and assigned to the Higher Education subcommittee on January 23. The continuation provides lawmakers additional time to assess implementation details, potential costs to state agencies and public institutions, and alignment with existing special education frameworks. Virginia’s public universities and colleges with teacher preparation programs stand to benefit from streamlined certification pathways, potentially enhancing local capacity to address transition services without expansive new bureaucracies.

Public testimony during committee proceedings included supportive remarks from education administrators emphasizing the bill’s role in securing brighter futures for students with disabilities. One commentator, Mike Asip, policy chair of the Virginia Council of Administrators of Special Education, urged support for House Bill 85, thanking Delegate Laufer for sponsorship. These inputs highlight the bill’s focus on practical outcomes, such as improved postsecondary enrollment and job placement rates for vulnerable populations.

In the broader context of Virginia’s 2026 General Assembly, House Bill 85 exemplifies efforts to refine higher education credentials amid ongoing debates over resource allocation. Conservatives have long advocated for education reforms that prioritize vocational readiness, self-sufficiency, and efficient use of public funds—principles evident in the bill’s emphasis on rigorous, nationally comparable standards and collaborative development. The deferral allows for further refinement, ensuring the program delivers tangible value in preparing the next generation for economic independence.

As the session progresses beyond early February markers, stakeholders await refined fiscal analyses and potential reintroduction. With no co-patrons listed and no amendments noted, House Bill 85 remains a targeted initiative poised for reevaluation. Virginia’s legislative process, through mechanisms like continuations, safeguards against hasty expansions, upholding principles of limited government intervention paired with high accountability in education policy.

The measure’s trajectory underscores Virginia’s dedication to bolstering transition services, potentially setting a model for other states in certifying counselors who bridge secondary and postsecondary worlds. By fostering skilled professionals attuned to Virginia’s unique needs, the program could reduce long-term reliance on social services, promoting family stability and community productivity—core tenets of sound public policy.

Email the Richmond City Council:
Andrew Breton, andrew.breton@rva.gov,
Katherine Jordan, katherine.jordan@rva.gov,
Kenya Gibson, kenya.gibson@rva.gov,
Sarah Abubaker, sarah.abubaker@rva.gov,
Stephanie Lynch, stephanie.lynch@rva.gov,
Ellen Robertson, ellen.robertson@rva.gov,
Cynthia Newbille, cynthia.newbille@rva.gov,
Reva Trammell, reva.trammell@rva.gov,
Nicole Jones, nicole.jones@rva.gov,

Email the Richmond School Board:
Matthew Percival, mpercival@rvaschools.net,
Kathryn Ricard, kricard@rvaschools.net,
Ali Faruk, afaruk@rvaschools.net,
Wesley Hedgepeth, whedgepeth@rvaschools.net,
Stephanie Rizzi, srizzi@rvaschools.net,
Anne Holton, aholton@rvaschools.net,
Cheryl Burke, cburke2@rvaschools.net,
Emmett Jafari, ejafari@rvaschools.net,
Shavonda Fernandez, sdixon@rvaschools.net,

Richmond Virginia House of Delegates Adele McClure Alex Askew Alfonso Lopez Ali Faruk Amendments Amy Laufer Andrew Breton Anne Holton Anne Tata Atoosa Reaser Barry Knight Betsy Carr Bill Wiley Bonita Anthony Briana Sewell Buddy Fowler Budget Charlie Schmidt Charniele Herring Cheryl Burke Children Chris Runion Cia Price Cliff Hayes Cynthia Newbille Dan Helmer David Reid Debra Gardner Delores McQuinn Delores Oates Destiny LeVere Bolling Disabilities Don Scott Education Elizabeth Bennett-Parker Elizabeth Guzmán Ellen McLaughlin Ellen Robertson Emmett Jafari Eric Phillips Eric Zehr Garrett McGuire Gretchen Bulova High School Hillary Kent Holly Seibold Irene Shin Israel O'Quinn Jackie Glass Jas Jeet Singh Jason Ballard Jay Leftwich Jeion Ward Jessica Anderson John McAuliff Joseph McNamara Josh Thomas Joshua Cole Justin Pence Kacey Carnegie Karen Hamilton Karen Keys-Gamarra Karrie Delaney Katherine Jordan Kathryn Ricard Kathy Tran Katrina Callsen Keith Hodges Kelly Convirs-Fowler Kenya Gibson Kimberly Pope Adams Laura Cohen Lawmakers Lee Ware Legislation Leslie Mehta Lily Franklin Lindsey Dougherty Luke Torian Madison Whittle Marcus Simon Margaret Franklin Mark Downey Marty Martinez Matthew Percival May Nivar Michael Feggans Michael Webert Michelle Maldonado Mike Cherry Mitchell Cornett Nadarius Clark Nicole Cole Nicole Jones Otto Wachsmann Patrick Hope Paul Krizek Phil Hernandez Phillip Scott Policy Rae Cousins Reva Trammell Richmond Richmond City Council Richmond School Board Rip Sullivan Robert Bloxom Rodney Willett Rozia Henson Sam Rasoul Sarah Abubaker School Scott Wyatt Shavonda Fernandez Shelly Simonds Stacey Carroll Stephanie Lynch Stephanie Rizzi Terry Austin Terry Kilgore Tim Griffin Tom Garrett Tommy Wright Tony Wilt Virgil Thornton Virginia Virginia House Virginia House of Delegates Vivian Watts Wendell Walker Wesley Hedgepeth Will Davis Will Morefield Wren Williams