Higher education bills and appropriations to higher education approved by the 1976 Virginia Assembly are summarized. This session was the first in which the Council of Higher Education, operating under the expanded responsibilities granted to it by the General Assembly in 1974, provided formal recommendations on institutional budget requests to the governor and General Assembly. The legislation dealt with: the transfer of credits between community colleges and public and private four-year colleges; the feasibility of establishing a regional school of optometry; financial aid for students; reduced tuition rates for persons over 62 on a space available basis at public colleges; establishment of an independent Board of Visitors for Christopher Newport College; modification of the Board of Visitors of Radford College; and a commendation to the University of Virginia and Virginia Commonwealth University for their joint efforts to offer off-campus graduate education programs in nursing. Specific bills are identified by number. Positive steps taken by the General Assembly regarding financial support are also reviewed. (LBH)