Senate Bill 105 (SB105) is a piece of legislation passed in the Virginia General Assembly during the 2026 Legislative Session. It builds upon the foundation established by Senate Bill 5 (SB5), the 2024 law that first created the statewide STEM+C Competition Team GRant Program. SB105 strengthens and clarifies the adminstration of that program by redefining eligibility requiremements are directing the Virginia Department of Education and the Board of Education to update guidelines for grant applications. 

SB105 expands on the work of SB5 by ensuring that the STEM+C grant program operated fairly and effectively across Virginia public schools. 

The bill:

• Clarifies the eligibility requirements for STEM+C grants, specifying that grants may be awarded either to establish new competition teams or to support existing ones.

• Directs the Board of Education to include specific criteria for (1) establishing new STEM+C teams and (2) supporting teams that were formed independently before applying for a grant.

• Requires the Department of Education to review and consider revisions to grant guidelines prior to the 2026 application cycle—ensuring clearer expectations and more consistent statewide access.

• Creates a prioritization rule so that when applications exceed available funding, priority goes to new teams with demonstrated financial need, helping level the playing field for schools with fewer resources. 

SB5, passed unanimously and signed into law in 2024, established the original STEM+C Competition Team Grant Program to support extracurricular STEM and computing‑focused student teams across Virginia. Its Chief Patron was also Senator William M. Stanley, Jr., with Senator Christie New Craig and Senator Danica Roem as co‑patrons. SB5 created the grant structure, purpose, and statutory definitions for STEM+C competition teams, forming the foundation upon which SB105 now expands.

SB105 further strengthens Virginia’s commitment to STEM+C education by refining a program already proven effective. With clearer guidelines, expanded eligibility, and thoughtful prioritization of resources, it helps ensure that more students—particularly those in under‑resourced areas—can participate in robotics, engineering challenges, coding teams, and other high‑value STEM+C competitions.