VirginiaFull-time school bus drivers would need mental health awareness training
Full-time school bus drivers would complete mental health awareness training or a similar program at least once, with their school boards providing the training.
What it does
Full-time school bus drivers would have to complete mental health awareness training or a similar program at least once. School boards would provide it, with online training allowed.
Argument forMental health awareness training could help bus drivers recognize when students may need support during their daily rides.
Argument againstRequired training could take time from bus drivers’ other work and require school boards to arrange training.
More detail
School boards would require covered staff to complete mental health awareness training or a similar program at least once and would provide that training. The requirement covers full-time school bus drivers and teachers in local school divisions, plus other full-time staff selected by the school board. School boards could contract with state or local behavioral health agencies, nonprofits, or other certified trainers. Training could be online.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 21Continued from last sessionLatest
- Mar 5Continued to next session in Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)
- Feb 26Assigned Education sub: Public EducationMinor
- Feb 18Referred to Committee on Education and HealthMinor
- Feb 18Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- Feb 17Read third time and passed House (62-Y 34-N 0-A)Passed House
- Feb 16Engrossed by House - committee substituteMajor
- Feb 16committee substitute agreed toMajor
- Feb 16Read second timeMinor
- Feb 13Read first timeMinor
- Feb 12Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB495)
- Feb 11Committee substitute printed 26107573D-H1Major
- Feb 11Reported from Education with substitute (14-Y 7-N)Minor
- Feb 11House committee offered
- Feb 3Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 3-N)Major
- Feb 3House subcommittee offered
- Jan 30Assigned HED sub: K-12 SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 29Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB495)
- Jan 12Referred to Committee on EducationMinor
- Jan 12Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102869DIntroduced
EducationMental Health