ChangeBridge / Virginia / HB38 Enacted
HB38 House Bill
Enacted
2026-04-02

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.

Bill Details

State

Virginia

Session

2026 Regular Regular Session

Chamber

House

Official Source

lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB38

LegiScan

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Sponsors

Rozia Henson (Rep - D)
Bonita Anthony (Rep - D)
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (Sen - D)
Gretchen Bulova (Rep - D)
Katrina Callsen (Rep - D)
Nadarius Clark (Rep - D)
Joshua Cole (Rep - D)
Margaret Franklin (Rep - D)
Debra Gardner (Rep - D)
Jackie Glass (Rep - D)
C.E. Hayes (Rep - D)
Karen Keys-Gamarra (Rep - D)
Alfonso Lopez (Rep - D)
Garrett McGuire (Rep - D)
Marcia Price (Rep - D)
Irene Shin (Rep - D)
Kathy Tran (Rep - D)

Action History

2026-04-02 Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0047)
2026-04-02 Approved by Governor-Chapter 47 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-03-10 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-10 H Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
2026-03-06 S Signed by President
2026-03-06 H Signed by Speaker
2026-03-06 H Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB38)
2026-03-06 H Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB38ER)
2026-03-06 H Enrolled
2026-03-02 S Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
2026-03-02 S Read third time
2026-02-27 S Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-27 S Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-27 S Rules suspended
2026-02-26 S Reported from Education and Health (9-Y 6-N)
2026-02-19 S Assigned Education sub: Public Education
2026-01-30 H Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB38)
2026-01-28 S Referred to Committee on Education and Health
2026-01-28 S Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-01-27 H Read third time and passed House (68-Y 31-N 0-A)
2026-01-26 H Read second time and engrossed
2026-01-23 H Read first time
2026-01-21 H Reported from Education (16-Y 6-N)
2026-01-20 H Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 1-N)
2026-01-19 H Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee
2025-12-23 H Referred to Committee on Education
2025-12-23 H Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101402D

Votes

2026-01-20 Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 1-N) Yea: 9 Nay: 1
2026-01-21 Reported from Education (16-Y 6-N) Yea: 16 Nay: 6
2026-01-27 Read third time and passed House (68-Y 31-N 0-A) Yea: 68 Nay: 31
2026-02-26 Reported from Education and Health (9-Y 6-N) Yea: 9 Nay: 6
2026-02-27 Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A) Yea: 37 Nay: 0
2026-03-02 Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A) Yea: 21 Nay: 19

Committee Referrals

2025-12-23 H Education
2026-01-19 H Education: K-12
2026-01-28 S Education and Health
2026-02-19 S Education: Public Education

Bill Text Versions

2025-12-23 Introduced
2026-03-06 Enrolled
2026-04-02 Chaptered

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