State Sen. Barbara A. Favola has introduced legislation seeking to revise the way Virginia provides support and funding for at-risk students and related education programs, the Virginia State Senate reports.
The proposal, filed as SB33 on Jan. 14, 2026, for the 2026 regular session, is officially titled: “Programs for at-risk students; permissible uses of funding.”
The analysis below, using the official bill language, explains and clarifies its main provisions.
The legislation renames the current block grant as the At-Risk Program, broadens the purposes for which funds can be used, and clarifies funding guidelines. Grants could be used to support at-risk add-on funds, dropout prevention, English as a second language instruction, AVID, homework assistance, select Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program services, and both school and community health centers—including recruitment of registered and advanced practice registered nurses. It retains options for reducing class sizes in grades K-3, expanding educational technology, hiring turnaround specialists, and providing incentives to encourage teaching in high-need middle school subjects.
Sen. Barbara A. Favola (Democrat-40th District) serves as the primary sponsor, joined by Sen. Christie New Craig (Republican-19th District).
During the session’s initial weeks, Favola has introduced another 18 bills.
Favola earned her bachelor’s degree from Saint Joseph College in 1977.
A Democrat, Favola was elected in 2024 to represent Virginia’s 40th Senate district, succeeding Todd Pillion as the state senator.
The Virginia legislative process begins with bill introduction in either the Senate or the House of Delegates, followed by committee assignment for discussion and potential revision. After committee approval, measures advance to the floor for debate and votes by both chambers. Once agreed to by both, the bill heads to the governor, who may sign, veto or let it become law without signature. The Virginia General Assembly’s regular session opens each year on the second Monday of January, with legislators proposing hundreds of bills—although not all become law.
| Patron(s) | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbara A. Favola and Christie New Craig | SB33 | 01/14/2026 | Programs for at-risk students; permissible uses of funding. |
| Barbara A. Favola and Kannan Srinivasan | SB34 | 01/14/2026 | Incapacitated persons; finding of lack of capacity to understand act of voting. |
| Barbara A. Favola and Russet Perry | SB37 | 01/14/2026 | Sexual abuse during infancy or incapacity; accrual. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB38 | 01/14/2026 | Firearms; transfers to another person from a prohibited person. |
| Barbara A. Favola, Kannan Srinivasan, and Angelia Williams Graves | SB58 | 01/14/2026 | Elections; deadline for receipt of absentee ballots and certain other information, etc. |
| Barbara A. Favola, David R. Suetterlein, Holly M. Seibold, and Irene Shin | SB64 | 01/14/2026 | Juveniles; commitment to DJJ, petition to extend duration of indeterminate commitment. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB70 | 01/14/2026 | Delinquency petition; referral to court service unit. |
| Barbara A. Favola, Kannan Srinivasan, and Saddam Azlan Salim | SB90 | 01/14/2026 | Equity in public school funding and staffing; At-Risk Program established, Standards of Quality. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB125 | 01/14/2026 | Children’s Ombudsman, Office of the; powers and duties, report. |
| Barbara A. Favola and Mark D. Obenshain | SB171 | 01/14/2026 | Minor elementary or secondary school students admitted to inpatient treatment; discl. of discharge. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB177 | 01/14/2026 | Va. Consumer Protection Act; prohibited practices, consumer reproductive/sexual health information. |
| Barbara A. Favola, Aaron R. Rouse, Adam P. Ebbin, Angelia Williams Graves, Danica A. Roem, David W. Marsden, Jennifer B. Boysko, Jennifer D. Carroll Foy, Kannan Srinivasan, L. Louise Lucas, Lamont Bagby, Lashrecse D. Aird, Mamie E. Locke, Michael J. Jones, R. Creigh Deeds, Russet Perry, Saddam Azlan Salim, Schuyler T. VanValkenburg, Scott A. Surovell, and Stella G. Pekarsky | SB199 | 01/14/2026 | Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB247 | 01/14/2026 | Nursing homes; application to Commissioner of Health for change of operator license, civil penalty. |
| Barbara A. Favola and Kannan Srinivasan | SB257 | 01/14/2026 | Health insurance; requirements for certain opioid antagonists. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB269 | 01/14/2026 | Mental health service providers; definitions, use of artificial intelligence system civil penalty. |
| Barbara A. Favola and Alfonso H. Lopez | SB296 | 01/14/2026 | County manager plan of government; affordable dwelling unit ordinance. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB332 | 01/14/2026 | Medical marijuana; administration to terminally ill patients. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB418 | 01/14/2026 | Therapeutic interchange; authorizes pharmacists to perform, adaptation of prescriptions. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB421 | 01/14/2026 | Pharmacist; remote verification and counseling in opioid treatment programs. |
