State Del. Delores Oates has put forth new legislation that would allow greater flexibility for teacher candidates to fulfill requirements for licensure coursework, according to the Virginia State House.
The bill, HB1383, introduced on Jan. 21, 2026, during the legislature’s regular session, is formally titled: “Technical prof. license; curriculum & instruction coursework, comprehensive community colleges.”
Below is a summary based on the text of the bill, with clarifications to aid understanding of its provisions.
The legislation updates Virginia’s teacher licensure laws to ensure that candidates seeking a technical professional license can complete required curriculum and instruction coursework at any comprehensive community college, regardless of whether it is credit-based or provided as a noncredit workforce credential. The measure applies to both the existing licensure statute and its version that is scheduled to take effect July 1, 2030. This provision is designed to open up more affordable, flexible options for prospective technical teachers’ credentialing.
The bill is sponsored by Rep. Delores Oates (Republican-31st District), Rep. Bill Wiley (Republican-32nd District), Rep. Atoosa R. Reaser (Democrat-27th District), and three additional sponsors.
Oates has sponsored one other bill since the start of this session.
Her academic background includes graduating from Lord Fairfax Community College in 1986 with an AAS degree and from Regent University in 2017 with a BA.
Oates, a Republican, won election to the Virginia State House in 2024 representing the 31st District, succeeding Elizabeth Guzman.
The legislative process in Virginia starts with a bill filing in either chamber, followed by committee assignment, discussion, and potential amendment. If advanced by committee, the bill moves to the House and Senate floor for debate and formal votes. Measures passed by both are sent to the governor, who may sign, veto, or allow a bill to become law without a signature. The General Assembly meets annually beginning the second Monday in January, with each session seeing hundreds of bills introduced, though only some reach final enactment.
| Legislative Session | Patron(s) | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Delores Oates, Bill Wiley, Atoosa R. Reaser, Katrina Callsen, Laura Jane Cohen, and Rae Cousins | HB1383 | 01/21/2026 | Technical prof. license; curriculum & instruction coursework, comprehensive community colleges. |
| 2026 | Delores Oates | HB1217 | 01/14/2026 | Keeper of livery stable; liens, requirements. |
| 2025 | Delores Oates and Carrie E. Coyner | HB2750 | 01/17/2025 | Common interest communities; termination of certain management contracts. |
The information in this article comes from the Virginia State House. Access the original source data here.
