HB 48 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Suicide prevention; VDH to convene work group to develop plan to reduce among at-risk populations.

Summary

Department of Health; suicide prevention; at-risk populations; work group; report. Directs the Department of Health to convene a work group to develop a statewide strategic plan to reduce suicides among at-risk populations in the Commonwealth. The bill requires the work group to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the Joint Commission on Health Care, the Chair of the House Committee on Health and Human Services, and the Chair of the Senate Committee on Education and Health by November 1, 2026.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Dec 29, 2025 Last action Feb 18, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Rules Substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended from its original introduction to a Rules Committee substitute version, adding more specific requirements for the suicide prevention work group. The changes expand the work group's responsibilities to include developing a five-year strategic plan and annual interim reports, add new members to the work group composition, and clarify reporting timelines and responsibilities.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include more specific requirements for the work group, including a five-year strategic plan cycle, annual interim reports, and additional work group members such as the Director of Corrections and Medical Assistance Services.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for the work group to develop and revise a statewide strategic plan every five years, with specific key performance indicators and data sharing frameworks.

Changed the Department of Health's responsibilities to include providing technical assistance and support with data analysis, and clarified that all Commonwealth agencies must provide assistance to the work group upon request.

Removed the requirement for the work group to compare Virginia's progress to other states, instead making this part of the interim report requirements.

TIMELINE

Established specific submission deadlines: interim report by November 1, 2026, and statewide strategic plan by November 1, 2027, with annual and five-year reporting thereafter.

ELIGIBILITY

Added new work group members including the Director of the Department of Corrections, Director of the Department of Medical Assistance Services, a lived experience representative from the Suicide Prevention Interagency Advisory Group, and one representative from a population at increased risk of suicide.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Left in Committee Rules

lower

Jan 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (5-Y 0-N)

lower

Jan 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

House subcommittee offered

lower

Jan 22, 2026

Committee

Assigned HRUL sub: Studies Subcommittee

lower

Dec 29, 2025

Committee

Referred to Committee on Rules

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor