Legislative Update for VA Assn of Community Services Boards
Friday March 7, 2025


BillPatronTitleSynopsisUpcoming HearingsStatus
HB 1637 Patrick A. Hope Opioid Antagonists; Dispensing And Administration By Person Acting On Behalf Of An Organization. Opioid antagonists; dispensing and administration by person acting on behalf of an organization. Permits persons acting on behalf of an organization that provides services to individuals at risk of experiencing an opioid overdose or training in the administration of naloxone or other opioid antagonists to dispense other opioid antagonists. The bill also allows persons to whom other opioid antagonists are dispensed to possess and administer such opioid antagonists. Under current law, persons acting on behalf of such organizations may only dispense naloxone. This bill is identical to SB 1035. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (2/18)
HB 1675 C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. Board Of Medicine; Continuing Education; Unconscious Bias And Cultural Competency. Board of Medicine; continuing education; unconscious bias and cultural competency. Directs the Board of Medicine to require unconscious bias and cultural competency training as part of the continuing education requirements for renewal of licensure. The bill specifies requirements for the training and requires the Board of Medicine to report on the training to the Department of Health. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care. S Passed Senate (23-Y 16-N) (2/18)
HB 1710 Debra D. Gardner Department Of Medical Assistance Services; Reimbursement Rates For Early Intervention Program For Infants And Toddlers With Disabilities; Work Group; Report. Department of Medical Assistance Services; reimbursement rates for Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities; work group; report. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to convene a work group of relevant stakeholders to assess and make recommendations related to reimbursement rates for the federal Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers With Disabilities. The bill requires the work group to report its recommendations to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Health and Human Services and the Senate Committee on Education and Health by November 1, 2025. H Left in Appropriations (2/4)
HB 1712 Vivian E. Watts Law-enforcement Agencies And Officers; Establishing Training Course For Certain Arrests. Department of Criminal Justice Services; training on certain arrests. Requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services to establish a training course for law-enforcement agencies and officers on the discretion such officers can exercise regarding certain arrests. The bill requires that such training include (i) instruction on the scope and nature of law-enforcement officer discretion in arrest decisions, with particular emphasis on encounters with individuals experiencing a mental health crisis, including individuals currently subject to an emergency custody order, a temporary detention order, or an involuntary admission order, and (ii) instruction on the immediate and long-term effects of arrests on individuals in need of mental health services due to a mental health crisis, including impacts on treatment outcomes as identified in substantially accepted peer-reviewed research literature by January 1, 2026. The bill requires any person employed as a law-enforcement officer prior to January 1, 2026, to complete such training by July 1, 2026 and biennially thereafter, and any person employed as a law-enforcement officer after January 1, 2026 to complete the training within one year of his date of hire and biennially thereafter. Lastly, the bill directs the Criminal Justice Services Board to promulgate regulations pursuant to relevant law requiring in-person training to special conservators of the peace on the provisions of the bill and other existing statutes related to the arrest and prosecution of persons with mental or behavioral health disorders by January 1, 2026. The bill requires any person appointed as a special conservator of the peace prior to January 1, 2026, to complete the training by July 1, 2026 and biennially thereafter, and any person appointed as a special conservator of the peace after January 1, 2026 to complete the training within one year of his appointment and biennially thereafter. This bill is identical to SB 1194. C Amended by conference committee (2/22)
HB 1713 Vivian E. Watts Jurisdiction Of District Courts In Felony Cases; Specialty Dockets; Behavioral Health Docket Act. Jurisdiction of district courts in felony cases; specialty dockets; Behavioral Health Docket Act. Authorizes a general district court and a juvenile and domestic relations district court to retain jurisdiction over a felony offense for the purpose of allowing the accused to complete a specialty docket or behavioral health docket established pursuant to relevant law. Current law only explicitly provides such courts with the ability to certify felony charges to the circuit court or dismiss such charges after a preliminary hearing to determine if probable cause exists for such charges. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/3)
HB 1760 Debra D. Gardner Mental Health For Children 5 Yrs. Of Age Or Younger; Dbhds, Et Al., To Develop Screening, Etc. Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Act; report. Directs the Department of Health (the Department), in collaboration with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Department of Education, to convene a work group to develop a plan to (i) create a mental health screening and assessment tool for children in early childhood care and (ii) provide mental health consultation resources and training to early childhood education providers, pediatric health providers, and families. The work group shall report its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations by November 1, 2025. H Senate Amendment agreed to by House (64-Y 31-N) (2/20)
HB 1803 Laura Jane Cohen Human Resource Management, Department Of; Establishing A Career Group For Licensed Behavior Analysts Department of Human Resource Management; stakeholder advisory group; establishing a career group for licensed behavior analysts; report. Directs the Department of Human Resource Management to convene a stakeholder advisory group to provide advice to the Department on establishing a career group and any other necessary associated defined roles within the health and human services occupational family for licensed behavior analysts employed by the Commonwealth. The bill directs the advisory group to submit its findings and recommendations to the Department no later than November 1, 2025. S Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) (2/18)
HB 1877 Anne Ferrell Tata; Sam Rasoul; Katrina Callsen Barrier Crimes; Peer Recovery Specialists; Screening Requirements. Barrier crimes; peer recovery specialists; screening requirements. Modifies the barrier crimes screening assessment requirements for peer recovery specialists applying for employment with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, an employer licensed by the Department, or a community services board to require that such specialists have completed all prison or jail terms, been free of parole or probation for at least five years, have no pending charges in any locality, and not be under probation or parole supervision in order to be eligible for a screening assessment. Under current law, an applicant must also have paid all fines, restitution, and court costs for any prior convictions. S Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) (2/18)
HB 1893 Holly M. Seibold State Plan For Medical Assistance Services; Recovery Residences; Work Group; Report. State plan for medical assistance services; recovery residences; work group; report. Directs the Board of Medical Assistance Services to amend the state plan for medical assistance services to include a provision for payment of care provided at certain recovery residences for individuals diagnosed with a substance use disorder. The bill also directs the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to (i) convene a work group of relevant stakeholders to (a) establish a monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the effectiveness and impact of recovery residences on long-term recovery outcomes and (b) study the economic impact of recovery residences on the Commonwealth and (ii) in consultation with such work group, promulgate regulations to ensure recovery residences are operating in compliance with American Society of Addiction Medicine standards. The bill directs the work group to report its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committee on Health and Human Services and the Senate Committee on Education and Health by November 1, 2025. H Left in Appropriations (2/4)
HB 1895 Rodney T. Willett Involuntary Temporary Detention Orders; Amends Definition Of "psychiatric Emergency Department." Involuntary temporary detention orders; definition of 'psychiatric emergency department.' Amends the definition of 'psychiatric emergency department' as it relates to involuntary temporary detention orders to remove the requirement that a psychiatric emergency department be located adjacent to a facility licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and to add requirements that a psychiatric emergency department (i) be licensed by either the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services or the Department of Health and (ii) provide that at least one physician who is primarily responsible for the emergency department be on duty and physically present at all times that the hospital is operating as an emergency service. This bill applies to hospitals with a psychiatric emergency department located in the City of Hampton for the purpose of employing certain trained individuals to perform evaluations to determine whether a person meets the criteria for temporary detention for behavioral health treatment and has an expiration date of July 1, 2026, and is identical to SB 1094. S Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) (2/18)
HB 1903 Rodney T. Willett Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority; Virginia Nursing Workforce Center Established; Reporting And Monitoring Of Health Care Workforce Programs; Residency Slots; Work Group; Report. Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority; Virginia Nursing Workforce Center established; reporting and monitoring of health care workforce programs; residency slots; work group; report. Establishes the Virginia Nursing Workforce Center under the auspices of the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority (the Authority) for the purpose of working toward ensuring a quality nursing workforce for all Virginians. The bill also changes the name of the Virginia Health Care Career and Technical Training and Education Fund to the Virginia Health Workforce Innovation Fund and directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to amend its regulations to increase supplemental payments for qualifying residency slots from $100,000 to $160,000. The bill directs the Authority to convene work groups for the purpose of developing a long-term vision for the health workforce and to develop a plan to increase capacity for reporting and monitoring of health care workforce programs. H Left in Appropriations (2/4)
HB 1931 Destiny LeVere Bolling Regional Older Adults Facility Team; Central/eastern Va. To Establish. Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; community services boards; Regional Older Adults Facility Team; central and eastern Virginia. Directs community services boards located in Central and Eastern Virginia to establish a Regional Older Adults Facility Team to provide services to older adults with mental illness and dementia in each region modeled after the Regional Older Adults Facility Team program conducted by the Northern Virginia Regional Projects Office. H Left in Appropriations (2/4)
HB 1937 Patrick A. Hope Acute Psychiatric Bed Registry; Patient Privacy And Data Security, Etc. Acute psychiatric bed registry; Bed Registry Advisory Council established; patient privacy and data security; Virginia Freedom of Information Act exemption. Requires the Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to include provisions for the protection of patient privacy and data security pursuant to state and federal law and regulations in contracts with private entities for the administration of the acute psychiatric bed registry. The bill requires the Commissioner to create the Bed Registry Advisory Council to advise the Commissioner and any such private entity on the administration of such registry and to review and approve requests for access to data from the registry. The bill also creates a Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) exemption for information submitted to such registry. S Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) (2/18)
HB 1945 Atoosa R. Reaser School Boards; School-based Telehealth And Mental Health Teletherapy Services, Accessibility. School boards; student access to telehealth services; policies. Directs each school board to consider, for the purpose of increasing access to health care services for students, developing and implementing policies for permitting any public school student in the school division to schedule and participate in telehealth services, including mental health teletherapy services pursuant to a memorandum of understanding with a nationally recognized school-based telehealth provider developed in accordance with applicable law, on school property during regular school hours with parental consent. The bill requires any such policies developed and implemented by a school board to (i) require each public elementary and secondary school to designate a location in the school for student use for such telehealth appointments and implement measures to ensure the safety and privacy of any student participating in a telehealth appointment, (ii) prohibit any student from being subject to any disciplinary measure or consequence for participating in a telehealth appointment during regular school hours if such student would not be subject to any disciplinary measure or consequence for an absence for the purpose of receiving any health care services in person during regular school hours, and (iii) include such other requirements as the school board deems necessary and appropriate. Finally, the bill requires any school board that develops and implements any policies for permitting students to schedule and participate in telehealth services pursuant to the bill to provide and post in a publicly accessible location on its website at the beginning of each school year guidance relating to the implementation of such policies for administrative and instructional personnel. This is identical to SB 1037. H Senate substitute agreed to by House (52-Y 43-N) (2/19)
HB 2168 C. Todd Gilbert Felony Homicide; Certain Drug Offenses, Penalty. Felony homicide; certain drug offenses; penalty. Provides that a person is guilty of felony homicide, which constitutes second degree murder and is punishable by confinement of not less than five nor more than 40 years, if the underlying felonious act that resulted in the killing of another involved the manufacture, sale, gift, or distribution of a Schedule I or II controlled substance to another and (i) such other person's death results from his use of the controlled substance and (ii) the controlled substance is the proximate cause of his death. The bill provides that venue for a prosecution of this crime shall lie in the locality where the underlying felony occurred, where the use of the controlled substance occurred, or where death occurred. The bill also provides that if a person gave or distributed a Schedule I or II controlled substance only as an accommodation to another individual who is not an inmate in a community correctional facility, local correctional facility, or state correctional facility, or in the custody of an employee thereof, and not with intent to profit thereby from any consideration received or expected nor to induce the recipient of the controlled substance to use or become addicted to or dependent upon such controlled substance, he is guilty of a Class 5 felony. H Left in Courts of Justice (2/4)
HB 2228 Mike A. Cherry Special Conservators Of The Peace; Emergency And Involuntary Civil Admissions. Special conservators of the peace; emergency and involuntary civil admissions. Clarifies that the term 'law-enforcement officer' as used in relevant law relating to emergency and involuntary civil admissions includes a special conservator of the peace authorized by an order of appointment pursuant to relevant law that states he is a 'law-enforcement officer' for the purposes of laws related to emergency custody and involuntary temporary detention. H Left in Health and Human Services (2/5)
HB 2230 Mike A. Cherry Emergency Custody And Involuntary Admissions; Transfer Of Custody To Facility. Emergency custody and involuntary admissions; transfer of custody to facility. Permits the law-enforcement agency or alternative transportation provider providing a person subject to an emergency custody order transportation to a facility or location for the required evaluation to transfer custody of such person to such facility or location if it (i) agrees to accept custody of the person; (ii) is actually capable of providing the level of security necessary to protect the person and others from harm, including having appropriate security personnel; and (iii) in cases in which transportation is provided by a law-enforcement agency, has entered into an agreement or memorandum of understanding with the law-enforcement agency setting forth the terms and conditions under which it will (a) accept a transfer of custody and (b) request that the law-enforcement agency will return to the facility or location upon request to protect the person and others should the security needs of such facility or location be exceeded, provided, however, that the facility or location may not require the law-enforcement agency to pay any fees or costs for the transfer of custody. Current law permits such transfer of custody if the facility or location (1) is licensed to provide the level of security necessary to protect both the person and others from harm, (2) is actually capable of providing the level of security necessary to protect the person and others from harm, and (3) in cases in which transportation is provided by a law-enforcement agency, has entered into an agreement or memorandum of understanding with the law-enforcement agency setting forth the terms and conditions under which it will accept a transfer of custody, provided, however, that the facility or location may not require the law-enforcement agency to pay any fees or costs for the transfer of custody. H Left in Public Safety (2/5)
HB 2235 Shelly A. Simonds; Rae Cousins Local And Regional Correctional Facilities; Treatment Of Prisoners Known To Be Pregnant. Local and regional correctional facilities; treatment of prisoners known to be pregnant. Prohibits the use of restraints, defined in the bill, on any prisoner of a local or regional correctional facility who is (i) known to be pregnant or (ii) in postpartum recovery unless a deputy sheriff or jail officer makes an individualized determination that (a) the prisoner will harm herself, the fetus, the newborn child, or any other person; (b) the prisoner poses a flight risk; or (c) the totality of the circumstances creates a serious security risk. Under current law, such prohibition applies only to state correctional facilities. The bill also requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services to include in the compulsory minimum entry-level training standards training regarding pregnant prisoners for deputy sheriffs and jail officers who are employees of local or regional correctional facilities who may have contact with pregnant prisoners. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/3)
HB 2258 Karrie K. Delaney Bureau Of Insurance Of Scc; Step Therapy Protocols For Health Benefit Plans, Report. Bureau of Insurance; step therapy protocols; study; report. Directs the Bureau of Insurance of the State Corporation Commission to study step therapy protocols for health benefit plans developed by insurance companies pursuant to existing law by conducting a data call of health carriers. The bill directs the Bureau to submit a summary and report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by November 1, 2026. S Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) (2/19)
HB 2282 Carrie E. Coyner Children's Services Act; Changes To State Pool Of Funds. Children's Services Act; state pool of funds. Makes a number of changes to the Children's Services Act state pool of funds for the provision of public or private nonresidential or residential services for troubled youth and families, including (i) removing the requirement that the Office of Children's Services consult with private special education services providers in developing the standard reporting template for tuition rates; (ii) removing from the purpose of the state pool of funds the consolidation of categorical agency funding and the institution of community responsibility for the provision of services; (iii) removing language specifying that references to funding sources and current placement authority for the target population served by the state pool of funds are for the purpose of accounting for the funds and should not be intended to categorize children and youth into funding streams in order to access services; (iv) modifying the target population served by the state pool of funds by (a) removing references to the Department of Education's private tuition assistance and the Interagency Assistance Fund for Noneducational Placement for Handicapped Children and (b) adding children and youth who are determined to be a child in need of services, as such term is defined in relevant law; (v) removing the requirement that the financial and legal responsibility for certain special education services remains with the placing jurisdiction, unless the placing jurisdiction has transitioned all appropriate services; (vi) requiring that the uniform assessment instrument used to determine eligibility for funding through the state pool of funds be approved by the State Executive Council for Children's Services; and (vii) modifying the eligibility criteria for funding through the state pool of funds by adding language that (a) specifies that the child or youth's emotional or behavioral problems have resulted in the child or youth, or place the child or youth at imminent risk of, entering purchased residential care and (b) includes the determination by a court that the child or youth is a child in need of services, as such term is defined in relevant law. The bill also includes technical changes. This bill is a recommendation of the Virginia Commission on Youth. H Failed to report from Health and Human Services with amendment(s) (9-Y 9-N) (1/28)
HB 2285 Carrie E. Coyner Autism Advisory Council; Establishment Of An Autism Data Dashboard, Report. Study; Autism Advisory Council; establishment of an autism data dashboard in the Commonwealth; report. Directs the Autism Advisory Council to study and advise the General Assembly on the establishment of an autism data dashboard for the purpose of promoting greater public transparency and access to information and resources on autism spectrum disorders. The Council is directed to submit a report with recommendations for such dashboard's development, including the types of data and resources that should be included, to the Chairs of the House Committee on Appropriations, the House Committee on Health and Human Services, the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, and the Senate Committee on Education and Health no later than November 1, 2025. H Left in Rules (2/4)
HB 2290 Carrie E. Coyner Behavioral Health Services; Correctional Facilities, Exchange Of Medical/mental Health Information. Behavioral health services; exchange of medical and mental health information and records; correctional facilities. Permits the Department of Medical Assistance Services, the Department of Social Services, and any local department of social services to access medical and mental health information and records for persons committed to any correctional facility for the purposes of providing pre-release services, reentry planning, and post-incarceration placement and services. The bill also authorizes the Department of Medical Assistance Services to access a juvenile's social, medical, psychiatric, and psychological reports and records during pre-release and up to 30 days following such juvenile's release from commitment for the purposes of providing pre-release services, reentry planning, and post-incarceration placement and services. H Incorporated by Health and Human Services (HB2754-Singh) (Voice Vote) (1/28)
HB 2344 Chris Obenshain Early Intervention Program For Infants And Toddlers With Disabilities; Program Extension. Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities; program extension. Directs the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to take all steps necessary to implement the federal extension option for the federal Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities to allow children four years of age or younger to receive services through such program. H Left in Appropriations (2/4)
HB 2350 Debra D. Gardner Emergency Management, Department Of; Powers & Duties, Development & Implementation Of Guidelines. Department of Emergency Management; powers and duties; development and implementation of standardized guidelines and training programs. Provides for the Department of Emergency Management (the Department) to consult with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services regarding the development of standardized guidelines for mental health support during an emergency or extended incident. The bill also requires the Department to develop a training program comprised of National Incident Management System (NIMS) principles, the state's Incident Command System (ICS) structure, and the role of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Under the bill, each agency head shall be required to complete the training within six months of appointment and again every two years thereafter. In addition, the bill provides for the Department to (i) offer health and safety training to volunteer organizations incorporated into the Virginia Emergency Support Team (VEST) and (ii) establish a health monitoring system for volunteers to be implemented during a declared state of emergency. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Joint Subcommittee to Study Pandemic Response and Preparedness in the Commonwealth. This bill is identical to SB 1386. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/5)
HB 2353 Tony O. Wilt Public Elementary & Secondary Schools; Copies Of Minor's Discharge Plan Sent To Schools And Parents. Discharge plans; copies to public elementary and secondary schools. Provides that, prior to the discharge of any minor admitted to inpatient treatment (i) who is a student at a public elementary or secondary school and (ii) for whom the facility deems (a) such discharge poses a threat of violence or physical harm to self and others or (b) additional educational services are needed, such facility is required to provide to the school's mental health professional or school counselor the portions of such discharge plan relevant to the threat of violence or harm or the necessary additional educational services. The bill requires such facility to, prior to providing any such portions of any minor's discharge plan, provide to the parent of such minor student reasonable notice of the types of information that would be included in any portions of the discharge plan being provided and of the parent's right to, upon written request, refuse the provision of any such information. H Left in Education (2/4)
HB 2534 Briana D. Sewell Nonhospitalized Individuals; Crisis Stabilization Services. Department of Medical Assistance Services; state plan for medical assistance services; crisis stabilization services for nonhospitalized individuals. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to seek federal approval to remove the prohibition against the use of crisis stabilization services for nonhospitalized individuals in institutions for mental disease. The bill directs the Department to promulgate regulations to implement such changes to be effective within 280 days of receiving federal approval. This bill is identical to SB 1304. S Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) (2/18)
HB 2569 James A. "Jay" Leftwich Persons With Mental Illness; Va. State Crime Commission, Et Al., To Study Petty Crimes Committed. Virginia State Crime Commission; Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; persons with mental illness; petty crimes; study; report. Directs the Virginia State Crime Commission, in collaboration with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, to conduct a study on the petty crimes that are most frequently committed by persons with mental illness. The bill requires the Commission to submit a report on its findings to the Chairs of the House Committees for Courts of Justice and on Health and Human Services and the Senate Committees for Courts of Justice and on Education and Health by November 1, 2025. H Left in Rules (2/4)
HJ 441 Marty Martinez Elementary/secondary Schools; Va. Com. On Youth To Study Policies To Support Student Mental Health. Study; Virginia Commission on Youth; policies to support student mental health in Virginia's elementary and secondary schools; report. Directs the Virginia Commission on Youth to undertake a study on policies to support student mental health in Virginia's elementary and secondary schools, with a focus on improving funding and other resources, training and professional development, partnerships with health services, curriculum development, research and evaluation, and public awareness campaigns. The Behavioral Health Commission, along with the staffs of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, are directed to provide assistance to the Commission during the course of the two-year study. H Tabled in Rules (15-Y 0-N) (1/29)
SB 747 Barbara A. Favola Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Courts; Delinquent Juveniles; Social Assessment & Evaluation. Juvenile and domestic relations district courts; mental health and social assessments. Provides that if a juvenile is found to be delinquent, that a juvenile and domestic relations district court may, before final disposition of the case, direct the appropriate public agency to evaluate such juvenile's service needs using an interdisciplinary approach. The bill permits the juvenile and domestic relations district court, in the alternative, to consider an existing report from an interdisciplinary team if such interdisciplinary team met not more than 90 days prior to the finding that the juvenile is delinquent. H Left in Courts of Justice (2/18)
SB 752 Barbara A. Favola Bd. Of Psychology, Et Al., To Study Education, Training, Etc. Board of Psychology; prescriptive authority for clinical psychologists work group; report. Directs the Boards of Psychology and Medicine to jointly convene a work group with stakeholders to study the education, training, and qualifications of clinical psychologists licensed in the Commonwealth and assess under what conditions it may be appropriate for clinical psychologists to be granted prescriptive authority. The bill requires the work group to report its findings to the Chairs of the House Committee on Health and Human Services and the Senate Committee on Education and Health by November 1, 2025. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/5)
SB 768 Barbara A. Favola School-based Mental And Behavioral Health Services; Doe To Survey Local Education Agencies, Report. Department of Education; survey of local education agencies on school-based mental and behavioral health services; report. Requires the Department of Education (the Department) to survey each local education agency (LEA) in the Commonwealth to determine (i) how public schools governed by such LEA currently grant access to local departments of social services and community services boards and other community-based providers of mental and behavioral health services and (ii) what school-based mental and behavioral health services are made available by such LEA. The bill requires the Department to utilize the results of and feedback from the survey to inform the continued development and improvement of guidelines for school professionals to support students and families by connecting them with community resources that provide mental and behavioral health services. The bill requires the Department to report to the Commission on Youth by November 1, 2025, any findings and recommendations that result from the survey. This bill is identical to HB 1947. H Passed House (97-Y 1-N) (2/20)
SB 790 Christopher T. Head Opioid Antagonists; Dispensing And Administration By Person Acting On Behalf Of An Organization. Opioid antagonists; dispensing and administration by person acting on behalf of an organization. Permits persons acting on behalf of an organization that provides services to individuals at risk of experiencing an opioid overdose or training in the administration of naloxone or other opioid antagonists to dispense other opioid antagonists. The bill also allows persons to whom other opioid antagonists are dispensed to possess and administer such opioid antagonists. Under current law, persons acting on behalf of such organizations may only dispense naloxone. S Incorporated by Education and Health (SB1035-Pekarsky) (15-Y 0-N) (1/23)
SB 819 Barbara A. Favola Community-based Outpatient Stabilization Programs For Voluntary Treatment; Referrals. Referrals to community-based outpatient stabilization programs for voluntary treatment. Requires health care professionals and evaluators to consider whether a referral to a community-based outpatient stabilization program for voluntary treatment is appropriate prior to a patient's release from an emergency custody order or a temporary detention order. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/5)
SB 838 Rodney T. Willett; Schuyler T. VanValkenburg Recovery Residences; Certification Required Penalty, Report. Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; recovery residences; certification required; penalty; work group. Changes the existing civil penalty for a violation of law related to the operation of recovery residences to a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill allows the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to issue provisional certification to certain recovery residences. The bill also directs the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to convene a work group to (i) make recommendations related to oversight and transparency for recovery residences and (ii) develop credentialing guidelines for recovery residences. The bill directs the work group to report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by November 1, 2025. S House Amendments agreed to by Senate (38-Y 0-N) (2/20)
SB 841 Barbara A. Favola Opioid Treatment Programs; Dispensing, Medications From Mobile Units. Board of Pharmacy; Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; opioid treatment programs; mobile units; report. Directs the Board of Pharmacy, in collaboration with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, to develop and implement a process by which opioid treatment programs can apply for and receive the necessary permissions and waivers to dispense opioid use disorder treatment medications from mobile units. The bill directs the Board to report to the Joint Commission on Health Care by November 1, 2025, on the status of and any barriers to the development and implementation of such process. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care. H Left in Appropriations (2/18)
SB 842 Barbara A. Favola Mobile Health Clinics; Dhcd To Include Broadband Access Services For Clinics. Department of Housing and Community Development; broadband access services for mobile health clinics. Requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to, as part of its broader initiative to support the development and implementation of programs that support telehealth, include broadband access services for mobile health clinics as a priority for broadband nondeployment programs using federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program funding to the extent approved by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/3)
SB 843 Barbara A. Favola Remote Patient Monitoring Patients With Chronic Conditions, Report. Department of Medical Assistance Services; remote patient monitoring for patients with chronic conditions; report. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to develop a plan and estimate costs for expanding eligibility criteria under Medicaid for remote patient monitoring for individuals with chronic conditions and to report such plan and cost estimate to the Joint Commission on Health Care by October 1, 2025. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/5)
SB 1013 Jennifer B. Boysko Neurocognitive Disorder, Etc.; Affirmative Defense To Prosecution. Affirmative defense or reduced penalty for a neurocognitive disorder or intellectual or developmental disability. Provides an affirmative defense to prosecution of an individual for assault or assault and battery against certain specified persons for which the enhanced Class 6 felony and six-month mandatory minimum apply if such individual proves, by a preponderance of the evidence, that at the time of the assault or assault and battery (i) the individual's behaviors were a result of (a) mental illness or (b) a neurocognitive disorder, including dementia, or and intellectual disability or a developmental disability such as autism spectrum disorder, as defined in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association, or (ii) the individual met the criteria for issuance of an emergency custody order. The bill provides that if such individual does not prove that his behaviors were a result of his mental illness, intellectual disability, developmental disability, or neurocognitive disorder but the evidence establishes that his mental illness, intellectual disability, developmental disability, or neurocognitive disorder otherwise contributed to his behaviors, the finder of fact may find the accused guilty of a misdemeanor assault or assault and battery. The bill also provides that such affirmative defense shall not be construed to allow an affirmative defense for voluntary intoxication. S House substitute agreed to by Senate (23-Y 16-N) (2/20)
SB 1035 Stella G. Pekarsky; Christopher T. Head Opioid Antagonists; Dispensing And Administration By Person Acting On Behalf Of An Organization. Opioid antagonists; dispensing and administration by person acting on behalf of an organization. Permits persons acting on behalf of an organization that provides services to individuals at risk of experiencing an opioid overdose or training in the administration of naloxone or other opioid antagonists to dispense other opioid antagonists. The bill also allows persons to whom other opioid antagonists are dispensed to possess and administer such opioid antagonists. Under current law, persons acting on behalf of such organizations may only dispense naloxone. This bill incorporates SB 790 and is identical to HB 1637. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/3)
SB 1037 Russet Perry; Stella G. Pekarsky School Boards; School-based Telehealth And Mental Health Teletherapy Services, Accessibility. School boards; student access to telehealth services; policies. Directs each school board to consider, for the purpose of increasing access to health care services for students, developing and implementing policies for permitting any public school student in the school division to schedule and participate in telehealth services, including mental health teletherapy services pursuant to a memorandum of understanding with a nationally recognized school-based telehealth provider developed in accordance with applicable law, on school property during regular school hours with parental consent. The bill requires any such policies developed and implemented by a school board to (i) require each public elementary and secondary school to designate a location in the school for student use for such telehealth appointments and implement measures to ensure the safety and privacy of any student participating in a telehealth appointment, (ii) prohibit any student from being subject to any disciplinary measure or consequence for participating in a telehealth appointment during regular school hours if such student would not be subject to any disciplinary measure or consequence for an absence for the purpose of receiving any health care services in person during regular school hours, and (iii) include such other requirements as the school board deems necessary and appropriate. Finally, the bill requires any school board that develops and implements any policies for permitting students to schedule and participate in telehealth services pursuant to the bill to provide and post in a publicly accessible location on its website at the beginning of each school year guidance relating to the implementation of such policies for administrative and instructional personnel. This bill incorporates SB 1130 and is identical to HB 1945. H Passed House (52-Y 46-N) (2/20)
SB 1038 Stella G. Pekarsky Telehealth Visits For Patients With Disabilities; Best Practice Educational Training. Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; best practice training; telehealth visits for patients with disabilities. Directs the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to develop and disseminate best practice educational training for health care providers on how to conduct telehealth visits for patients with disabilities. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/5)
SB 1054 Adam P. Ebbin Virginia Cannabis Control Authority; Draft Regulations Governing Cannabis, Report. Virginia Cannabis Control Authority; draft regulations governing cannabis; report. Directs the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority to draft regulations governing the indoor cultivation, processing, manufacturing, testing, packaging, labeling, distribution, sale, and delivery of marijuana to adults age 21 or older in the Commonwealth, which shall (i) include appropriate application and license fees; (ii) include transaction limits; and (iii) model, to the greatest extent practicable, the regulations promulgated by the Authority governing the Medical Cannabis Program. The bill requires the Authority to report such draft regulations to the General Assembly by November 15, 2025, and indicate the date by which it would be able to implement and enforce such regulations, issue licenses, provide adequate enforcement, and implement a transitional sales program for pharmaceutical processors. The bill specifies that any regulations drafted by the Authority pursuant to the provisions of the bill shall not become effective until such regulations are approved by an act of the General Assembly. S Passed by indefinitely in Rehabilitation and Social Services (15-Y 0-N) (1/31)
SB 1064 Ghazala F. Hashmi Medical Care Facilities; Relocation, Conversion, And Addition Of Beds. Relocation, conversion, and addition of beds in medical care facilities; application for certificate of public need; expedited review. Expands the State Board of Health's procedures for expedited review of applications for certificates of public need for certain projects to include the relocation or conversion of beds from, or the addition of beds to, an already existing medical facility, as well as the establishment of a new psychiatric medical care facility by an existing medical care facility. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/5)
SB 1094 Emily M. Jordan Involuntary Temporary Detention Orders; Amends Definition Of "psychiatric Emergency Department." Involuntary temporary detention orders; definition of 'psychiatric emergency department.' Amends the definition of 'psychiatric emergency department' as it relates to involuntary temporary detention orders to remove the requirement that a psychiatric emergency department be located adjacent to a facility licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and to add requirements that a psychiatric emergency department (i) be licensed by either the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services or the Department of Health and (ii) provide that at least one physician who is primarily responsible for the emergency department be on duty and physically present at all times that the hospital is operating an emergency service. This bill applies to hospitals with a psychiatric emergency department located in the City of Hampton for the purpose of employing certain trained individuals to perform evaluations to determine whether a person meets the criteria for temporary detention for behavioral health treatment and has an expiration date of July 1, 2026, and is identical to HB 1895. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/5)
SB 1101 Ghazala F. Hashmi Breakthrough Therapies For Veteran Suicide Prevention Advisory Council; Established. Breakthrough Therapies for Veteran Suicide Prevention Advisory Council. Establishes the Breakthrough Therapies for Veteran Suicide Prevention Advisory Council to provide assistance to and advise the Department of Health on methods to support clinical research and implementation of treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, treatment-resistant depression, major depressive disorder, and traumatic brain injury. H Passed by indefinitely in Rules (18-Y 0-N) (2/17)
SB 1110 Angelia Williams Graves Weapons; Possession Prohibited In A Hospital That Provides Mental Health Or Developmental Services. Weapons; possession prohibited in a hospital that provides mental health services or developmental services; penalty. Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to knowingly and intentionally possess in the building of any hospital that provides mental health services or developmental services in the Commonwealth, including an emergency department or other facility rendering emergency medical care, a (i) firearm, (ii) knife with a blade over three and one-half inches, or (iii) other dangerous weapon, including explosives and stun weapons. The bill also provides that notice of such prohibitions shall be posted conspicuously at each public entrance of any hospital and no person shall be convicted of the offense if such notice is not posted, unless such person had actual notice of the prohibitions. The bill provides that any such firearm, knife, explosive, or weapon shall be subject to seizure by a law-enforcement officer and forfeited to the Commonwealth and specifies exceptions to the prohibition. This bill is identical to HB 1977. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (2/20)
SB 1130 Russet Perry School Boards; School-based Mental Health Teletherapy Services; Increasing Accessibility Of Mental Health Teletherapy Services; Policies And Requirements. School boards; school-based mental health teletherapy services; increasing accessibility of mental health teletherapy services; policies and requirements. Directs the Department of Education (the Department) to include in the model memorandum of understanding between a school board and a nationally recognized school-based telehealth provider that it is required to develop and distribute to each school board pursuant to applicable law parameters for the provision of mental health teletherapy for students outside of regular school hours and during regular school hours on school property. The bill also requires each school board to, for the purpose of increasing the accessibility of mental health services for public school students, (i) permit any student enrolled in the school division to schedule and participate in mental health teletherapy services during regular school hours on the same basis as such students are permitted to participate in school counseling services; (ii) enter into a memorandum of understanding, consistent with the model memorandum of understanding developed by the Department, with a nationally recognized school-based telehealth provider that ensures and sets forth parameters for the provision of such mental health teletherapy services during regular school hours; (iii) develop and implement policies and procedures for permitting any student to participate in such mental health teletherapy services during regular school hours; and (iv) develop, post in a publicly accessible location on its website, and make available to all administrative and instructional personnel in the school division at the beginning of each school year informational materials relating to such mental health teletherapy policies. S Incorporated by Education and Health (SB1037-Pekarsky) (15-Y 0-N) (1/23)
SB 1135 Jennifer B. Boysko Crystalline Polymorph Psilocybin; Regulations For Prescribing, Etc. Board of Pharmacy; regulation of crystalline polymorph psilocybin. Directs the Board of Pharmacy to promulgate regulations that allow for prescribing, dispensing, possessing, and using the pharmaceutical composition of crystalline polymorph psilocybin upon approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and following rescheduling by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/5)
SB 1194 R. Creigh Deeds Law-enforcement Agencies And Officers; Establishing Training Course For Certain Arrests. Department of Criminal Justice Services; training on certain arrests. Requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services to establish a training course for law-enforcement agencies and officers on the discretion such officers can exercise regarding certain arrests. The bill requires that such training include (i) instruction on the scope and nature of law-enforcement officer discretion in arrest decisions, with particular emphasis on encounters with individuals experiencing a mental health crisis, including individuals currently subject to an emergency custody order, a temporary detention order, or an involuntary admission order, and (ii) instruction on the immediate and long-term effects of arrests on individuals in need of mental health services due to a mental health crisis, including impacts on treatment outcomes as identified in substantially accepted peer-reviewed research literature by January 1, 2026. The bill requires any person employed as a law-enforcement officer prior to January 1, 2026, to complete such training by July 1, 2026 and biennially thereafter, and any person employed as a law-enforcement officer after January 1, 2026 to complete the training within one year of his date of hire and biennially thereafter. Lastly, the bill directs the Criminal Justice Services Board to promulgate regulations pursuant to relevant law requiring in-person training to special conservators of the peace on the provisions of the bill and other existing statutes related to the arrest and prosecution of persons with mental or behavioral health disorders by January 1, 2026. The bill requires any person appointed as a special conservator of the peace prior to January 1, 2026, to complete the training by July 1, 2026 and biennially thereafter, and any person appointed as a special conservator of the peace after January 1, 2026 to complete the training within one year of his appointment and biennially thereafter. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Behavioral Health Commission. This bill is identical to HB 1712. C Amended by conference committee (2/22)
SB 1232 Stella G. Pekarsky; Lashrecse D. Aird Autism Advisory Council; Name Change, Membership, Repeals Sunset Date. Autism Advisory Council; name change; membership; staffing; powers and duties. Provides for the Autism Advisory Council to be reconstituted as a permanent, independently staffed agency in the legislative branch of state government. Currently, the Autism Advisory Council is set to expire on July 1, 2027. The bill repeals that expiration date and renames the agency as the Autism Commission. The bill also modifies the membership of the Commission to more closely align with the membership makeup of other independently staffed legislative agencies and directs the Commission to appoint and employ an executive director and other staff to assist in carrying out the duties of the Commission. S Left in Finance and Appropriations (2/5)
SB 1240 Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr. School-connected Overdoses; Policies Relating To Parental Notification And Response, Requirements. School-connected student overdoses; policies relating to parental notification. Requires public school principals and heads of private schools in the Commonwealth to report certain information to the parents of enrolled students within 24 hours of a confirmed or suspected school-connected student overdose, as defined in the bill. This bill is identical to HB 2774. C Amended by conference committee (2/22)
SB 1290 R. Creigh Deeds Health Insurance; Reimbursement For Services Rendered By Certain Practitioners. Health insurance; reimbursement for services rendered by certain practitioners other than physicians. Requires health insurers and health service plan providers whose accident and sickness insurance policies or subscription contracts cover services that may be legally performed by a physician assistant to provide equal coverage for such services when rendered by a licensed athletic trainer when such services are performed in an office setting. Additionally, the bill requires the reimbursement or payment for a service provided by certain licensed practitioners listed in the bill to be in the same amount as the reimbursement or payment paid under such policy or subscription contract to a licensed physician performing such service in the area served. S Passed by indefinitely in Commerce and Labor with letter (15-Y 0-N) (2/3)
SB 1293 William M. Stanley, Jr. Autism Spectrum Disorder; School Board Employees Professional Development And Continuing Education. School board employees; professional development and continuing education; optional programs; children with autism spectrum disorder. Directs the Board of Education to provide guidance on and each school board to provide each year an optional program of high-quality professional development for instructional personnel and school board employees whose duties include regular contact with students on communicating with and supporting students with autism spectrum disorder. The bill provides that any instructional personnel or school board employee who completes such professional development shall be eligible for professional development points toward renewal of his license. H Passed House (98-Y 0-N) (2/20)
SB 1304 Jeremy S. McPike Nonhospitalized Individuals; Crisis Stabilization Services. Department of Medical Assistance Services; state plan for medical assistance services; crisis stabilization services for nonhospitalized individuals; emergency. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to seek the necessary federal approvals to remove the prohibition against the use of crisis stabilization services for nonhospitalized individuals in institutions for mental disease and, upon receiving federal approval, (i) authorizes the Department of Medical Assistance Services to implement such change through agency guidance documents prior to the completion of any regulatory review process and (ii) directs it to promulgate regulations to implement such change to be effective within 280 days of receiving federal approval. This bill is identical to HB 2534. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/3)
SB 1363 Todd E. Pillion Health Professions, Board Of; Transfer Of Powers And Duties. Elimination of Board of Health Professions; transfer of powers and duties. Eliminates the Board of Health Professions and transfers certain powers and duties from the Board to the Department of Health Professions. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/5)
SB 1439 Tara A. Durant Acute Psychiatric Bed Registry; Patient Privacy And Data Security, Etc. Acute psychiatric bed registry; Bed Registry Advisory Council established; patient privacy and data security; Virginia Freedom of Information Act exemption. Requires the Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to include provisions for the protection of patient privacy and data security pursuant to state and federal law and regulations in contracts with private entities for the administration of the acute psychiatric bed registry. The bill requires the Commissioner to create the Bed Registry Advisory Council to advise the Commissioner and any such private entity on the administration of such registry and to review and approve requests for access to data from the registry. The bill also creates a Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) exemption for information submitted to such registry. This bill is identical to HB 1937. G Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 24, 2025 (3/3)