By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – Three proposals now before the Virginia House of Delegates would alter governance, oversight, and disciplinary policy at the Virginia Military Institute.
The proposals follow continued legislative attention on VMI after a 2021 state-commissioned investigation.
VMI is a four-year, state-supported military college founded in 1839. It operates under a military-style academic system and is currently governed by a Board of Visitors appointed by the governor.
House Bill 1374 would repeal the law establishing VMI’s independent Board of Visitors and transfer governance authority to the Board of Visitors of Virginia State University. If enacted, the bill would change who oversees VMI’s operations and institutional direction. The proposal does not close VMI or remove its status as a public institution.
The bill was introduced Jan. 20 and was heard in a House Education subcommittee on Monday. No vote was taken, and the measure was carried over for further consideration. As of Tuesday, it remains in committee.
The Department of War, in a statement posted by its chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, addressed House Bill 1374 and its potential impact on VMI.
“The Department of War is monitoring Virginia House Bill 1374, focused on the governance of the Virginia Military Institute, with significant concern,” the statement said.
“For generations, the unique military environment at VMI has made the Institute a vital source of commissioned officers for the Armed Forces. The stability of this proven leadership pipeline is a matter of direct national security interest, and any action that could disrupt the ecosystem requires our full attention.”
“DoW reserves the right to take extraordinary measures to protect the integrity of VMI, and our commitment to the cadets and midshipmen currently training there remains steadfast,” the statement continued. “We urge the Virginia General Assembly to consider the broader implications of this bill on military readiness, as well as the federal government’s longstanding investment in this critical institution.”
House Bill 1377 would create a Virginia Military Institute Advisory Task Force charged with evaluating whether VMI should continue as a state-supported institution. The task force would review academic programs, costs, enrollment trends, diversity efforts, and how VMI compares with other public colleges.
The bill requires the task force to submit a recommendation by Nov. 30 with any changes requiring future legislative action.
House Bill 22 would remove a VMI-specific exception in Virginia law governing disciplinary immunity for students who report sexual assault. Under current law, VMI may require cadets to attend counseling as a condition of immunity when minor rule violations are disclosed during a report.
The measures come after VMI’s Board of Visitors announced in 2025 not to renew the contract of Superintendent Cedric Wins, who had led reforms following the 2021 investigation.
All three bills must advance out of the House of Delegates by Feb. 17 to remain active this legislative session.