SB 140 Virginia Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Fire Programs, Department of; development of mental health awareness training.

Summary

Department of Fire Programs; mental health awareness training. Provides that the Department of Fire Programs shall develop a standardized, two-hour virtual asynchronous training program on mental health awareness tailored to firefighters that includes training on each subject matter set forth in current law. The bill provides the option for each fire department to use such standardized training program as guidance in developing its own mental health awareness training for its personnel. This bill is identical to HB 325.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 6, 2026 Signed Apr 6, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

Appropriations Substitute → Chaptered · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill transitions a firefighter mental health training law from a draft substitute version to an official chaptered act. It clarifies that firefighters receive continuing education credits for completing the training and mandates the state to create a standardized two-hour virtual training program by December 1, 2026, which local departments can use or adapt.

Scope change

The scope remains focused on fire departments and their personnel, but the applicability is strengthened by requiring the state to provide a specific, standardized training option for all departments.

REQUIREMENT

Added a mandate for the Department of Fire Programs to develop a standardized, two-hour virtual asynchronous training program on mental health awareness.

Corrected a grammatical error in the original draft to clearly state that firefighters shall receive continuing education credits upon completing the training.

TIMELINE

Set a specific deadline of December 1, 2026, for the state to complete the development of the standardized training program.

TECHNICAL

Converted the text from a legislative substitute format to the final official chaptered act format.

Floor votes · Senate Jan 28, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 25, 2026

How they voted

39–0

Passed

Total votes 39

Jan 28, 2026

D Democratic20

20 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican19

19 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 6, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor-Chapter 110 (effective 7/1/2026)

executive

Mar 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

Signed by Speaker

lower

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Signed by President

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB140ER)

upper

Mar 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference report agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

upper

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference report agreed to by House (98-Y 1-N 0-A)

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Legislature · Passed

Conference Report released

legislature

Mar 2, 2026

Committee

House requested conference committee

lower

Feb 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed House with substitute (95-Y 2-N 0-A)

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Appropriations with substitute (22-Y 0-N)

lower

Feb 5, 2026

Committee

Assigned HAPP sub: Transportation & Public Safety

lower

Feb 4, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Appropriations

lower

Jan 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read third time and passed Senate

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

upper

Jan 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (14-Y 0-N)

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from General Laws and Technology and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)

upper

Jan 6, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors