Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors Opposition to House Bills 1374 and 1377

AT A REGULAR MEETING OF THE ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY BOARD OFSUPERVISORS HELD AT THE ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICESON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2026RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS OPPOSITION TO HOUSE BILLS 1374 and 1377 REGARDING THE GOVERNANCE OF THE VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE WHEREAS, House Bill 1374 has been introduced during the 2026 Session of the Virginia General Assembly and proposes to amend Title 23.1 of the Code of Virginia by repealing the statutory provisions establishing the Board of Visitors of the Virginia Military Institute and transferring governance and oversight of the Institute to the Board of Visitors of Virginia State University; and WHEREAS, House Bill 1377 has been introduced during the 2026 Session of the Virginia General Assembly and proposes to establish a Virginia Military Institute Task Force charged with evaluating the lnstitute's mission, governance, costs, academic programs, student welfare, and institutional practices, and with reporting to the Governor and the General Assembly on whether the Virginia Military Institute should continue to operate as a state-sponsored institution of higher education; and WHEREAS, the Virginia Military Institute was founded in 1839 as America's first state supported military college and is the oldest public senior military college in the United States; and WHEREAS, citizens of Rockbridge County played a central role in the establishment of the Virginia Military Institute and its foundational citizen-soldier model; and WHEREAS, the Virginia Military Institute occupies a unique role among senior military colleges, enrolling only cadets and awarding bachelor's degrees in engineering, science, and the liberal arts; and WHEREAS, the Virginia Military Institute has educated thousands of graduates who have served the Commonwealth and the United States in military, civic, and professional leadership roles; and WHEREAS, the presence of the Virginia Military Institute constitutes a significant historical, cultural, and economic component of Rockbridge County; and WHEREAS, the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors recognizes that the governance of state institutions is vested in the General Assembly, but seeks to convey the perspective of the County and its residents regarding legislation that materially affects the community; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors hereby expresses its opposition to House Bill 1374, which would restructure the governance of the Virginia Military Institute, and House Bill 1377, which would initiate a formal review of whether the Institute should continue as a state sponsored institution of higher education, and respectfully urges the members of the Virginia General Assembly to consider the historical significance, institutional uniqueness, and local impacts associated with each of these proposals. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the members of the Rockbridge County legislative delegation and other appropriate state officials. Adopted this 9th day of February 2026. ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS By David B. McDaniel Chairman Attest: Spencer H. Suter, Clerk Please help The Cadet remain the independent voice of the Corps and aluni/ae by supporting us at http://www.thecadetfoundation.org