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Virginia lawmakers are advancing legislation aimed at stopping school officials from misusing the “homeless” designation to recruit high school athletes.

House Bill 1656, introduced by Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, would also prohibit officials from accepting money or gifts intended to influence a student’s decision to transfer schools for athletic reasons.

The bill reached the full House after narrowly clearing the House Education Committee on an 11-10 party-line vote. Lawmakers did not discuss the measure before voting.

The proposal follows multiple controversies involving Northern Virginia high school sports programs.

In November, the Virginia High School League determined that Hayfield Secondary School in Alexandria violated transfer eligibility rules by allowing several students to join its football team.

Hayfield finished the regular season with a 9-1 record but withdrew from the playoffs after the opening week. Many of its players had transferred from Freedom High School in Prince William County, which had won consecutive state championships.

Fairfax County Public Schools also recently suspended Edison High School’s varsity boys basketball coach after athletes who were not enrolled at the school played in a VHSL-sanctioned summer tournament.

Helmer said the incidents point to a broader shift in high school athletics as the professionalization of college sports begins affecting younger competitors.

He said the legislation is intended to preserve education as the priority while protecting high school sports as a competitive setting where students can learn leadership, sportsmanship and proper conduct.

Helmer described the bill as an initial effort rather than a complete solution. He said Virginia needs clearer laws and a broader legislative framework to safeguard the integrity of high school competition.