House Bill 1063, a repeal of the so-called “Kings Dominion law,” passed in the House by a 76-23 vote on Thursday.  The bill, which would allow local school districts to determine the start date of the school calendar, has been thought unlikely to pass.

It is still unclear whether the bill, which is currently in its first reading in the Senate Committee on Education and Health, will survive the Senate.  As the Richmond Times-Dispatch recently reported, a similar bill was previously considered and shot down in the Senate.

Opponents of the bill argue that earlier start dates around the Dominion would hurt the tourism industry, while its supporters have claimed that it would give school districts more time to prepare for standardized tests.  More than half of school districts already take advantage of the waiver in place in the current law, allowing those districts to set their own start date.