Bill Sponsor
Virginia House Bill 38
Session 2026
Public schools; mental health awareness training and instruction, requirements.
Active
Active
Passed Senate on Mar 2, 2026
First Action
Dec 23, 2025
Latest Action
Mar 2, 2026
Origin Chamber
House
Type
Bill
Bill Number
38
State
Virginia
Session
2026
Sponsorship by Party
Unknown
Gretchen M. Bulova
Cosponsor
Democrat
Cosponsor
Unknown
Margaret A. Franklin
Cosponsor
House Votes (3)
Senate Votes (3)
Motion Text
H VOTE:
House Roll Call Votes
Didn't Vote
Unknown
Charlie Schmidt
Yes
Unknown
Ellen H. McLaughlin
No
Unknown
Gretchen M. Bulova
Yes
Unknown
Jessica L. Anderson
Yes
Unknown
John Chilton McAuliff
Yes
Unknown
Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie
Yes
Unknown
Kimberly Pope Adams
Yes
Unknown
Leslie Chambers Mehta
Yes
Unknown
Lily V. Franklin
Yes
Unknown
Margaret A. Franklin
Yes
Unknown
Mark C. Downey
Yes
Unknown
Stacey Annie Carroll
Yes
Summary
A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-298.6 of the Code of Virginia, relating to public schools; mental health awareness training and instruction; requirements. 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.
Documents (1)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB38)
Actions (18)
03/02/2026
Senate
Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
03/02/2026
Senate
Read third time
02/27/2026
Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
02/27/2026
Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)
02/27/2026
Senate
Rules suspended
02/26/2026
Senate
Reported from Education and Health (9-Y 6-N)
02/19/2026
Senate
Assigned Education sub: Public Education
01/30/2026
House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB38)
01/28/2026
Senate
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
01/28/2026
Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
01/27/2026
House
Read third time and passed House (68-Y 31-N 0-A)
01/26/2026
House
Read second time and engrossed
01/23/2026
House
Read first time
01/21/2026
House
Reported from Education (16-Y 6-N)
01/20/2026
House
Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 1-N)
01/19/2026
House
Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee
12/23/2025
House
Referred to Committee on Education
12/23/2025
House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101402D
Sources
Record Created
Jan 20, 2026 9:25:52 PM
Record Updated
Mar 5, 2026 12:51:21 AM