Public schools; mental health awareness training and instruction, requirements.
Summary
Public schools; mental health awareness training and instruction; requirements. Requires each teacher and other relevant personnel, as determined by the applicable school board, employed on a full-time basis to complete mental health awareness training that addresses the needs of youth populations that are at a high risk of experiencing mental health challenges and disorders in accordance with evidence-based best practices developed by the American Psychological Association. Current law requires such teachers and personnel to complete mental health awareness training but does not contain any requirements relating to the specific topics such training must address. The bill prohibits any of its provisions or any policy adopted in accordance with its provisions from being construed to permit biased or discriminatory treatment of any youth population deemed to be at a high risk of experiencing mental health challenges and disorders.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Dec 23, 2025
Signed Apr 2, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Enrolled
→
Chaptered
·
1 edit
MINOR
The bill was formally enacted into law as Chapter 47 of the 2026 Virginia Acts of Assembly. The substantive text of the mental health awareness training requirements for public school staff remains identical to the previous version, with no changes to the specific duties, training content, or provider options.
Scope change
The bill's scope and applicability are unchanged; it continues to apply to all school boards and full-time school personnel in Virginia.
TECHNICAL
The document format changed from a draft 'Enrolled' version to a final 'Chaptered' version, adding official chapter numbering, an approval date of April 2, 2026, and adjusting line breaks for publication. No policy content was altered.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 27, 2026 · House of Delegates Jan 27, 2026
How they voted
36–0
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 39
Feb 27, 2026
D
Democratic20
90% Yea
R
Republican19
94% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
27
Key actions
10
Committee
7
Apr 2, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 47 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB38ER)
lower
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Education and Health (9-Y 6-N)
upper
Feb 19, 2026
Committee
Assigned Education sub: Public Education
upper
Jan 28, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
upper
Jan 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (68-Y 31-N 0-A)
lower
Jan 21, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Education (16-Y 6-N)
lower
Jan 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 1-N)
lower
Jan 19, 2026
Committee
Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee
lower
Dec 23, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Education
lower
1 primary · 14 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
J.R. Henson
DDemocratic
Co
Alfonso Lopez
DDemocratic
Co
Bonita Anthony
DDemocratic
Co
Cia Price
DDemocratic
Co
Cliff Hayes
DDemocratic
Co
Debra Gardner
DDemocratic
Co
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker
DDemocratic
Co
Garrett McGuire
DDemocratic
Co
Irene Shin
DDemocratic
Co
Jackie Glass
DDemocratic
Co
Josh Cole
DDemocratic
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