A bill introduced by Delegate Betsy B. Carr looks to bolster prison educational programs by standardizing requirements, boosting support systems, and sharpening oversight of academic results. Carr is the sponsor, according to the Virginia State House.
The measure, designated HB1041 and introduced Jan. 14, 2026, during the regular assembly session, carries the formal description: “DOC; powers and duties of Director, Virginia Prison Education Task Force established, report.”
Below is a summary based on official bill language, with explanations provided for clarity.
Key provisions of the legislation include revising education responsibilities within the Department of Corrections by assigning a superintendent to oversee an adult correctional school system, instituting a functional literacy initiative with evidence-based methods up to grade 12, and instructing data collection and sharing on inmate learning achievement and Pell Grant status, along with public reporting on enrollment and waitlists. The measure also implements protocols to detect incarcerated individuals with learning disabilities, updates teacher compensation to align with local school district levels, creates a Virginia Prison Education Task Force to ensure uniform programming across state prisons, expands funding, increases technology and reentry services, and requires annual reports through Nov. 1, 2029. It directs the Department of Education to propose salary schedule revisions for prison educators by Nov. 1, 2026.
The bill is co-sponsored by Rep. Betsy B. Carr (Democrat-78th District), Rep. Jackie H. Glass (Democrat-93rd District), Rep. Marcia S. “Cia” Price (Democrat-85th District), and three additional legislators.
Since the start of the session, Carr has put forth an additional 14 pieces of legislation.
Carr earned a bachelor’s degree from Hollins College in 1968.
A member of the Democratic Party, Carr was elected to represent Virginia’s 78th House district in 2024, succeeding former delegate Jay Leftwich.
In Virginia, the law-making process starts when a bill is introduced in the House of Delegates or the Senate. The proposed bill is forwarded to one or more committees for consideration and may be amended. If approved, it moves to floor proceedings and votes in both legislative chambers. Once both pass the measure, it goes to the governor, who may sign it, veto it, or permit it to become law without a signature. The Virginia General Assembly begins its regular session each year on the second Monday of January. Legislators bring forward hundreds of bills per session, but only a fraction are enacted.
| Patron(s) | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Betsy B. Carr, Jackie H. Glass, Marcia S. “Cia” Price, Marcus B. Simon, Rae Cousins, and Virgil Thornton | HB1041 | 01/14/2026 | DOC; powers and duties of Director, Virginia Prison Education Task Force established, report. |
| Betsy B. Carr | HB802 | 01/14/2026 | Vacant buildings; registration by registered agents, etc., annually. |
| Betsy B. Carr | HB803 | 01/14/2026 | Repairs or maintenance of property; entering adjoining property, petition for entry. |
| Betsy B. Carr and Eric Phillips | HB806 | 01/14/2026 | Industrial development authorities; promoting safe and affordable housing. |
| Betsy B. Carr | HB811 | 01/14/2026 | License plates, spec.; issuance to supporters of Richmond SPCA bearing legend SAVING LIVES TOGETHER. |
| Betsy B. Carr, Rodney T. Willett, and Holly M. Seibold | HB812 | 01/14/2026 | Traffic regulation; bicycles, and certain other devices, bicycle signals. |
| Betsy B. Carr and Rodney T. Willett | HB819 | 01/14/2026 | Pedestrians; walking on roadways that are part of divided highways. |
| Betsy B. Carr, Amy J. Laufer, Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker, Irene Shin, Jackie H. Glass, Kathy K.L. Tran, Michelle Lopes Maldonado, Nicole Cole, and Richard C. “Rip” Sullivan, Jr. | HB1037 | 01/14/2026 | Instructional materials on climate change & environtl. literacy; model pol. & proced. for selection. |
| Betsy B. Carr | HB1039 | 01/14/2026 | College and Career Ready Virginia Program; advisory committee and work group composition. |
| Betsy B. Carr | HB1040 | 01/14/2026 | VCU Health System Authority; changes relating to board of directors and chief executive officer. |
| Betsy B. Carr and Virgil Thornton | HB1043 | 01/14/2026 | Affordable and Special Needs Housing program, etc.; applicant notification of awards and denials. |
| Betsy B. Carr | HB1044 | 01/14/2026 | Virginia Public Procurement Act; cooperative procurement, re-roofing. |
| Betsy B. Carr | HB1045 | 01/14/2026 | Va. Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority; annual mixed beverage performing arts facility license. |
| Betsy B. Carr and Stacey Annie Carroll | HB1046 | 01/14/2026 | Virginia Public Procurement Act; additional public works contract requirements. |
| Betsy B. Carr, Hyland F. “Buddy” Fowler, Jr., and Virgil Thornton | HB1047 | 01/14/2026 | Va. War Memorial Foundation; Commissioner of Dept. of Veterans Services shall provide supervision. |
Information in this story was sourced from the Virginia State House. Original documentation is available here.
