Virginia House bill seeks land purchase for Laurel Ridge Community College expansion

New legislation proposed by Del. Bill Wiley is intended to help grow state-owned assets for improved student services and expanded workforce training at community colleges, the Virginia State House reports.

The measure, designated as HB1378, was filed on Jan. 21, 2026, as part of the 2026 regular session. The formal summary describes it as: “Community Colleges, State Board for; acquisition and improvement of certain property.”

Below is a summary that reflects the bill’s text and includes interpretation for clarity of its features.

Essentially, this proposal would permit the State Board for Community Colleges to acquire roughly 4.8 acres, encompassing a building and parking area adjacent to Laurel Ridge Community College. The purchase, involving a partial gift at a price below market value, would be from the Laurel Ridge Community College Educational Foundation and financed exclusively through nongeneral funds—such as reserves from auxiliary enterprises and revenue from noncredit workforce programs. Once completed, the site becomes a state facility that could join the Virginia Community College System’s capital outlay program and access state maintenance reserve resources. The property must maintain its role in student services and is to undergo renovations, as budgets allow, to broaden instructional and workforce offerings including health care, IT, and skilled trades.

Del. Bill Wiley (Republican-32nd District) was the sole sponsor of this legislation.

Since the session started, Wiley has introduced four other bills.

Wiley earned a bachelor’s degree from George Mason University in 1993.

The Republican lawmaker won election to the state’s 32nd House district in 2024, succeeding former representative David Reid.

As outlined by Virginia procedure, the law-making process commences when a member offers legislation in either legislative chamber. Assignments are made to relevant committees, where proposed bills are reviewed and may be amended. Committee-approved bills advance to floor discussion and undergo votes by both the House and Senate. Bills passing both move to the governor, who can sign, veto, or allow them to become law without signature. The Virginia General Assembly opens its regular session each year on the second Monday in January, with lawmakers submitting hundreds of bills; only a subset complete the process to become law.