State Sen. David R. Suetterlein has introduced a measure that would make it mandatory for schools to inform parents about their children’s course enrollment, the Virginia State Senate reports.
The proposed legislation, known as SB817, was filed on Jan. 23, 2026, as part of the 2026 regular session, and is labeled: “School bds; parental notification of course registration deadlines and processes required, policies.”
Below is an explanation, based on the text of the measure, which includes some interpretation for clarity.
The bill requires every local school board to establish policies ensuring public elementary and secondary schools notify parents by email or SMS text about any class, course or program their student registers for. Notifications must be delivered at least 30 days before enrollment is finalized as well as prior to the start of the class, course or program. The proposed rule is intended to broaden parental knowledge and engagement regarding students’ course choices. School boards need to have these notification procedures in effect by the beginning of the 2026-27 school year.
Sen. David R. Suetterlein (Republican-4th District) is the sole patron of this bill.
Since this session opened, Suetterlein has introduced an additional 18 pieces of legislation.
Suetterlein is an alumnus of Grove City College, where he earned a bachelor of arts degree.
In 2024, Suetterlein, a Republican, won election to the Virginia State Senate’s 4th District, succeeding former Sen. Ryan McDougle.
Virginia’s law-making process starts when a bill is presented in the House of Delegates or Senate, then referred to committees for consideration and possible changes. If passed through committee, the full chamber debates and votes in both bodies. If both agree, the bill moves to the governor, whose options are to approve, veto, or permit the measure to become law without a signature. Regular sessions of the Virginia General Assembly convene yearly beginning the second Monday in January; legislators submit hundreds of bills each session, but only a fraction become law.
| Patron(s) | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| David R. Suetterlein | SB817 | 01/23/2026 | School bds; parental notification of course registration deadlines and processes required, policies. |
| David R. Suetterlein | SB815 | 01/23/2026 | School bds.; opening of school year, certain alternative schedules & schedule flexibility permitted. |
| David R. Suetterlein and Kannan Srinivasan | SB818 | 01/23/2026 | Electric utilities; licensed retail suppliers, renewable portfolio standard requirements. |
| David R. Suetterlein | SB820 | 01/23/2026 | Community Builders Pilot Program; name change, statewide demonstration model site, repeals sunset. |
| David R. Suetterlein, Bill DeSteph, Bryce E. Reeves, Christie New Craig, Christopher T. Head, Emily M. Jordan, Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr., J.D. “Danny” Diggs, Luther Cifers, III, Mark D. Obenshain, Mark J. Peake, Richard H. Stuart, Ryan T. McDougle, T. Travis Hackworth, Tammy Brankley Mulchi, Tara A. Durant, Timmy F. French, Todd E. Pillion, and William M. Stanley, Jr. | SB7 | 01/14/2026 | Income tax, state; standard deduction and earned income tax credit. |
| David R. Suetterlein, Bill DeSteph, Bryce E. Reeves, Christie New Craig, Christopher T. Head, Emily M. Jordan, Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr., J.D. “Danny” Diggs, Luther Cifers, III, Mark D. Obenshain, Mark J. Peake, Richard H. Stuart, Ryan T. McDougle, T. Travis Hackworth, Tammy Brankley Mulchi, Tara A. Durant, Timmy F. French, Todd E. Pillion, and William M. Stanley, Jr. | SB9 | 01/14/2026 | RS & UT; food for human consumption and essential personal hygiene products, delayed effective date. |
| David R. Suetterlein, Joseph P. McNamara, and Sam Rasoul | SB10 | 01/14/2026 | Employment prohibition exceptions; apprenticeship program for children 16 years of age or older. |
| David R. Suetterlein | SB15 | 01/14/2026 | Motorcycle Driver Improvement Clinic Fund; created. |
| David R. Suetterlein and Bill DeSteph | SB17 | 01/14/2026 | Enforcement of vehicle liens; increases property value. |
| David R. Suetterlein | SB202 | 01/14/2026 | Elections; filling vacancies in county and city governing bodies. |
| David R. Suetterlein and Bryce E. Reeves | SB203 | 01/14/2026 | Teacher licensure; career and technical education or dual enrollment, three-year licenses. |
| David R. Suetterlein, Angelia Williams Graves, and Tammy Brankley Mulchi | SB204 | 01/14/2026 | License plates, special; issuance to members of Virginia REALTORS, fees collected. |
| David R. Suetterlein and T. Travis Hackworth | SB205 | 01/14/2026 | Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities; program extension. |
| David R. Suetterlein, Barbara A. Favola, Anne Ferrell Tata, Irene Shin, and Joshua G. Cole | SB206 | 01/14/2026 | Juvenile and domestic relations district courts; petitions for relief of care and custody. |
| David R. Suetterlein | SB533 | 01/14/2026 | Elections; absentee voting in person, uniform availability. |
| David R. Suetterlein, Joseph P. McNamara, and Sam Rasoul | SB534 | 01/14/2026 | Emergency custody orders; transportation to treatment center, etc. |
| David R. Suetterlein | SB538 | 01/14/2026 | Parole; investigation prior to release, input from the attorney for the Commonwealth. |
| David R. Suetterlein | SB686 | 01/14/2026 | Holding a handheld personal communications device while driving; driver improvement clinic. |
| David R. Suetterlein | SB692 | 01/14/2026 | Western Virginia Public Education Consortium; governance, funding, duties, report. |
The Virginia State Senate provided the data cited in this report. Source data is available here.
