Virginia SB568 Requires Schools to Warn Students About Device Addiction
Summary
Virginia Governor signed SB568 into law (Chapter 319), requiring all Virginia public schools to provide instruction on the addictive potential of time spent using electronic devices such as computers, cell phones, and smart devices. The Virginia Board of Education will prescribe the specific curriculum requirements. Schools must implement the new instruction requirements beginning with the 2026-2027 school year.
What changed
Virginia enacted SB568, a new law requiring public schools to provide instruction on the addictive potential of time spent using electronic devices including computers, cell phones, and smart devices. The Virginia Board of Education will prescribe the specific curriculum content and delivery requirements. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
Virginia public schools must prepare to incorporate this new required instruction into their curriculum by the 2026-2027 school year. School administrators and curriculum directors should monitor for Board of Education guidance on prescribed content and begin planning for teacher training and material development.
What to do next
- Review Virginia Board of Education curriculum guidelines for device addiction instruction
- Develop or update school curriculum to include electronic device addiction warnings
- Prepare to implement instruction requirements for 2026-2027 school year
Archived snapshot
Apr 8, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
ChangeBridge / Virginia / SB568 Signed by Governor SB568 Senate Bill Signed by Governor 2026-04-06
Public schools; addictive potential of time spent using certain electronic devices.
Public schools; student instruction; addictive potential of time spent using certain electronic devices. Requires instruction concerning time spent using electronic devices such as computers, cell phones, and other smart devices and the addictive potential thereof to be provided by the public schools as prescribed by the Board of Education. This bill is identical to HB 1486.
Bill Details
State Virginia
Session 2026 Regular Regular Session
Chamber Senate
Official Source lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB568
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Sponsors
Glen Sturtevant (Sen - R) Christie New Craig (Sen - R) Bill DeSteph (Sen - R) Danny Diggs (Sen - R) Tara Durant (Sen - R) Timmy French (Sen - R) Travis Hackworth (Sen - R) Chris Head (Sen - R) Emily Brewer (Sen - R) Ryan McDougle (Sen - R) Mark Obenshain (Sen - R) Mark Peake (Sen - R) Stella Pekarsky (Sen - D) Todd Pillion (Sen - R) Bryce Reeves (Sen - R) William Stanley (Sen - R) Richard Stuart (Sen - R) David Suetterlein (Sen - R) Schuyler VanValkenburg (Sen - D)
Action History
2026-04-06 Approved by Governor-Chapter 319 (effective 7/1/2026) 2026-04-06 Approved by Governor-Chapter 319 (effective 7/1/2026) 2026-03-31 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 2026-03-31 S Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 2026-03-31 H Signed by Speaker 2026-03-31 S Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB568) 2026-03-30 S Signed by President 2026-03-30 S Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB568ER) 2026-03-30 S Enrolled 2026-03-11 S House substitute agreed to by Senate (36-Y 4-N 0-A) 2026-03-10 H Passed House with substitute (99-Y 0-N 0-A) 2026-03-10 H Engrossed by House - committee substitute 2026-03-10 H committee substitute agreed to 2026-03-10 H Read third time 2026-03-09 H Passed by for the day 2026-03-06 H Read second time 2026-03-05 S Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB568) 2026-03-04 H Committee substitute printed 26109070D-H1 2026-03-04 H Reported from Education with substitute (21-Y 0-N) 2026-03-03 S Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB568) 2026-03-03 H Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N) 2026-03-03 H House subcommittee offered 2026-02-26 H Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee 2026-02-20 H Referred to Committee on Education 2026-02-20 H Read first time 2026-02-20 H Placed on Calendar 2026-02-16 S Blank Action 2026-02-16 S Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A) 2026-02-16 S Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) 2026-02-16 S Rules suspended 2026-02-16 S Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (Voice Vote) 2026-02-16 S Education and Health Substitute agreed to 2026-02-16 S Read second time 2026-02-13 S Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) 2026-02-13 S Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (36-Y 0-N 0-A) 2026-02-13 S Rules suspended 2026-02-12 S Committee substitute printed 26107469D-S1 2026-02-12 S Senate committee offered 2026-02-12 S Senate subcommittee offered 2026-02-12 S Reported from Education and Health with substitute (15-Y 0-N) 2026-02-05 S Assigned Education sub: Public Education 2026-01-30 S Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB568) 2026-01-14 S Referred to Committee on Education and Health 2026-01-14 S Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104877D
Votes
2026-02-12 Reported from Education and Health with substitute (15-Y 0-N) Yea: 15 Nay: 0 2026-02-13 Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (36-Y 0-N 0-A) Yea: 36 Nay: 0 2026-02-16 Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A) Yea: 39 Nay: 0 2026-02-16 Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A) Yea: 39 Nay: 0 2026-03-03 Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N) Yea: 10 Nay: 0 2026-03-04 Reported from Education with substitute (21-Y 0-N) Yea: 21 Nay: 0 2026-03-10 Passed House with substitute (99-Y 0-N 0-A) Yea: 99 Nay: 0 2026-03-11 House substitute agreed to by Senate (36-Y 4-N 0-A) Yea: 36 Nay: 4
Committee Referrals
2026-01-14 S Education and Health 2026-02-05 S Education: Public Education 2026-02-20 H Education 2026-02-26 H Education: K-12
Amendments
0000-00-00 Education Amendment
Bill Text Versions
2026-01-14 Introduced 2026-02-12 Comm Sub 2026-02-12 Comm Sub 2026-03-03 Comm Sub 2026-03-04 Comm Sub 2026-03-30 Enrolled Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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