Bill Commons

VA HB 355

enacted

Public school students in grades six through 12; annual mental health screening.

Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · lower

Quick answers

Did VA HB 355 pass?

Yes. VA HB 355 has been enacted into law as of 2026-04-13. Latest recorded action (2026-04-13): Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0593)

What is VA HB 355 about?

Department of Education; School Health Services Committee; annual mental health screenings for public school students in grades six through 12; recommendations on guidance and best practices. Directs the School Health Services Committee (the Committee), in collaboration with the Department of Education, to study and make recommendations on best practices for annual mental health screenings for public school students in grades six through 12 that utilize evidence-based tools. The bill directs the Committee to include its findings and recommendations in its annual report required pursuant to applicable law.

Who sponsors VA HB 355?

Debra D. Gardner is the primary sponsor of VA HB 355, joined by 13 cosponsors.

Description

Department of Education; School Health Services Committee; annual mental health screenings for public school students in grades six through 12; recommendations on guidance and best practices. Directs the School Health Services Committee (the Committee), in collaboration with the Department of Education, to study and make recommendations on best practices for annual mental health screenings for public school students in grades six through 12 that utilize evidence-based tools. The bill directs the Committee to include its findings and recommendations in its annual report required pursuant to applicable law.

Introduced
2026-01-12
Latest action
2026-04-13 — Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0593)
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Sponsors

  • Debra D. Gardnerprimary
  • Irene Shincosponsor
  • Delores L. McQuinncosponsor
  • Destiny LeVere Bollingcosponsor
  • Karen Keys-Gamarracosponsor
  • Patrick A. Hopecosponsor
  • Rozia A. Henson, Jr.cosponsor
  • Jeion A. Wardcosponsor
  • Nicole Colecosponsor
  • Nadarius E. Clarkcosponsor
  • Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegiecosponsor
  • Jessica L. Andersoncosponsor
  • Bonita G. Anthonycosponsor
  • Rae Cousinscosponsor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

  1. 2026-01-12

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105142D

    filing,introduction

  2. 2026-01-12

    Referred to Committee on Education

    referral-committee

  3. 2026-01-30

    Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee

    referral-committee

  4. 2026-02-03

    House subcommittee offered

  5. 2026-02-03

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N)

    substitution

  6. 2026-02-04

    Reported from Education with substitute (16-Y 5-N)

    committee-passage

  7. 2026-02-04

    Committee substitute printed 26107012D-H1

    substitution

  8. 2026-02-06

    Read first time

    reading-1

  9. 2026-02-09

    Read second time

    reading-2

  10. 2026-02-09

    committee substitute agreed to

    substitution

  11. 2026-02-09

    Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    substitution

  12. 2026-02-09

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB355)

  13. 2026-02-10

    Read third time and passed House (64-Y 33-N 0-A)

    passage,reading-3

  14. 2026-02-11

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  15. 2026-02-11

    Referred to Committee on Education and Health

    referral-committee

  16. 2026-02-19

    Assigned Education sub: Public Education

    referral-committee

  17. 2026-02-26

    Senate subcommittee offered

  18. 2026-02-26

    Senate committee offered

  19. 2026-02-26

    Reported from Education and Health with substitute (9-Y 6-N)

    committee-passage

  20. 2026-02-27

    Committee substitute printed 26108312D-S1

    substitution

  21. 2026-02-27

    Rules suspended

  22. 2026-02-27

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)

  23. 2026-02-27

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  24. 2026-03-02

    Read third time

    reading-3

  25. 2026-03-02

    Education and Health Substitute agreed to

  26. 2026-03-02

    Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

    substitution

  27. 2026-03-02

    Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

    passage

  28. 2026-03-02

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB355)

  29. 2026-03-04

    Senate substitute rejected by House (0-Y 96-N 0-A)

  30. 2026-03-04

    Reconsideration of Senate substitute rejected by House

  31. 2026-03-04

    Senate substitute agreed to by House (63-Y 32-N 0-A)

    substitution

  32. 2026-03-11

    Enrolled

    enrolled

  33. 2026-03-11

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB355ER)

    passage

  34. 2026-03-11

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB355)

  35. 2026-03-11

    Signed by President

    passage

  36. 2026-03-12

    Signed by Speaker

    passage

  37. 2026-03-14

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

    enrolled,executive-receipt

  38. 2026-03-14

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    executive-receipt

  39. 2026-04-13

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 593 (effective 7/1/2026)

    executive-signature

  40. 2026-04-13

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0593)

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute

    2026-02-03 · pass · 10-0

    Member-level votes (10)
    • Shelly A. Simonds: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Rae Cousins: yes
    • Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Lindsey Dougherty: yes
    • Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
    • Mike A. Cherry: yes
    • Anne Ferrell Tata: yes
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: yes

  • Reported from Education with substitute

    2026-02-04 · pass · 16-5

    Member-level votes (22)
    • Sam Rasoul: yes
    • Shelly A. Simonds: yes
    • Delores L. McQuinn: yes
    • Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
    • Briana D. Sewell: yes
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: not voting
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Nadarius E. Clark: yes
    • Rae Cousins: yes
    • Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
    • Amy J. Laufer: yes
    • Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Lindsey Dougherty: yes
    • Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
    • Mike A. Cherry: no
    • Anne Ferrell Tata: yes
    • Phillip A. Scott: no
    • Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: no
    • Eric R. Zehr: no
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: no
    • Madison Whittle: yes

  • H VOTE:

    2026-02-10 · pass · 64-33

    Member-level votes (100)
    • Jessica L. Anderson: yes
    • Bonita G. Anthony: yes
    • Alex Q. Askew: yes
    • Terry L. Austin: no
    • Jason S. Ballard: no
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: not voting
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: no
    • Gretchen M. Bulova: yes
    • Katrina Callsen: yes
    • Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: yes
    • Betsy B. Carr: yes
    • Stacey Annie Carroll: yes
    • Mike A. Cherry: no
    • Nadarius E. Clark: yes
    • Laura Jane Cohen: yes
    • Joshua G. Cole: yes
    • Nicole Cole: yes
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: yes
    • Mitchell Cornett: no
    • Rae Cousins: yes
    • Will Davis: no
    • Karrie K. Delaney: yes
    • Lindsey Dougherty: yes
    • Mark C. Downey: yes
    • Michael B. Feggans: yes
    • Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: no
    • Lily V. Franklin: yes
    • Margaret A. Franklin: yes
    • Debra D. Gardner: yes
    • Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: no
    • Jackie H. Glass: yes
    • Timothy P. Griffin: no
    • Elizabeth R. Guzman: yes
    • Karen Hamilton: no
    • C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: yes
    • Dan I. Helmer: yes
    • Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: yes
    • Phil M. Hernandez: yes
    • Charniele L. Herring: yes
    • M. Keith Hodges: no
    • Patrick A. Hope: yes
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: no
    • Karen Keys-Gamarra: yes
    • Terry G. Kilgore: no
    • Barry D. Knight: not voting
    • Paul E. Krizek: yes
    • Amy J. Laufer: yes
    • James A. "Jay" Leftwich: no
    • Destiny LeVere Bolling: yes
    • Alfonso H. Lopez: yes
    • Michelle Lopes Maldonado: yes
    • Marty Martinez: yes
    • John Chilton McAuliff: yes
    • Adele Y. McClure: yes
    • Garrett McGuire: yes
    • Ellen H. McLaughlin: no
    • Joseph P. McNamara: not voting
    • Delores L. McQuinn: yes
    • Leslie Chambers Mehta: yes
    • James W. Morefield: no
    • May Nivar: yes
    • Delores Oates: no
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: no
    • Justin Pence: no
    • Eric Phillips: no
    • Kimberly Pope Adams: yes
    • Marcia S. "Cia" Price: yes
    • Sam Rasoul: yes
    • Atoosa R. Reaser: yes
    • David A. Reid: yes
    • Chris S. Runion: no
    • Charlie Schmidt: yes
    • Don Scott: yes
    • Phillip A. Scott: no
    • Holly M. Seibold: yes
    • Briana D. Sewell: yes
    • Irene Shin: yes
    • Marcus B. Simon: yes
    • Shelly A. Simonds: yes
    • JJ Singh: yes
    • Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: yes
    • Anne Ferrell Tata: no
    • Joshua E. Thomas: yes
    • Virgil Thornton: yes
    • Luke E. Torian: yes
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: yes
    • H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: no
    • Wendell S. Walker: no
    • Jeion A. Ward: yes
    • R. Lee Ware: no
    • Vivian E. Watts: yes
    • Michael J. Webert: no
    • Madison Whittle: no
    • Bill Wiley: no
    • Rodney T. Willett: yes
    • Wren M. Williams: yes
    • Tony O. Wilt: no
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: no
    • Scott A. Wyatt: no
    • Eric R. Zehr: no

  • Reported from Education and Health with substitute

    2026-02-26 · pass · 9-6

    Member-level votes (15)
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • David R. Suetterlein: no
    • Mark J. Peake: no
    • Todd E. Pillion: no
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Christopher T. Head: no
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: no
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Christie New Craig: no
    • Russet Perry: yes

  • Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading)

    2026-02-27 · pass · 37-0

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: yes
    • Christie New Craig: yes
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: yes
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: yes
    • Tara A. Durant: not voting
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: yes
    • T. Travis Hackworth: yes
    • Christopher T. Head: yes
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: yes
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: yes
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: yes
    • Mark D. Obenshain: yes
    • Mark J. Peake: yes
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: not voting
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: yes
    • Bryce E. Reeves: yes
    • Danica A. Roem: not voting
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: yes
    • Richard H. Stuart: yes
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: yes
    • David R. Suetterlein: yes
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes

  • Passage R

    2026-03-02 · pass · 21-19

    Member-level votes (40)
    • Lashrecse D. Aird: yes
    • Lamont Bagby: yes
    • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker: yes
    • Jennifer B. Boysko: yes
    • Jennifer D. Carroll Foy: yes
    • Luther Cifers, III: no
    • Christie New Craig: no
    • R. Creigh Deeds: yes
    • Bill DeSteph: no
    • J.D. "Danny" Diggs: no
    • Tara A. Durant: no
    • Barbara A. Favola: yes
    • Timmy French: no
    • T. Travis Hackworth: no
    • Christopher T. Head: no
    • Michael J. Jones: yes
    • Emily M. Jordan: no
    • Mamie E. Locke: yes
    • L. Louise Lucas: yes
    • David W. Marsden: yes
    • Ryan T. McDougle: no
    • Jeremy S. McPike: yes
    • Tammy Brankley Mulchi: no
    • Mark D. Obenshain: no
    • Mark J. Peake: no
    • Stella G. Pekarsky: yes
    • Russet Perry: yes
    • Todd E. Pillion: no
    • Bryce E. Reeves: no
    • Danica A. Roem: yes
    • Aaron R. Rouse: yes
    • Saddam Azlan Salim: yes
    • Kannan Srinivasan: yes
    • William M. Stanley, Jr.: no
    • Richard H. Stuart: no
    • Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr.: no
    • David R. Suetterlein: no
    • Scott A. Surovell: yes
    • Schuyler T. VanValkenburg: yes
    • Angelia Williams Graves: yes

  • H VOTE:

    2026-03-04 · fail · 0-96

    Member-level votes (99)
    • Jessica L. Anderson: no
    • Bonita G. Anthony: no
    • Alex Q. Askew: no
    • Terry L. Austin: no
    • Jason S. Ballard: no
    • Robert S. Bloxom, Jr.: no
    • Gretchen M. Bulova: no
    • Katrina Callsen: no
    • Karen R. "Kacey" Carnegie: no
    • Betsy B. Carr: no
    • Stacey Annie Carroll: no
    • Mike A. Cherry: no
    • Nadarius E. Clark: no
    • Laura Jane Cohen: no
    • Joshua G. Cole: no
    • Nicole Cole: no
    • Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler: no
    • Mitchell Cornett: no
    • Rae Cousins: no
    • Will Davis: no
    • Karrie K. Delaney: no
    • Lindsey Dougherty: no
    • Mark C. Downey: no
    • Michael B. Feggans: no
    • Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, Jr.: no
    • Lily V. Franklin: no
    • Margaret A. Franklin: no
    • Debra D. Gardner: no
    • Thomas A. Garrett, Jr.: not voting
    • Jackie H. Glass: no
    • Timothy P. Griffin: no
    • Elizabeth R. Guzman: no
    • Karen Hamilton: no
    • C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr.: no
    • Dan I. Helmer: no
    • Rozia A. Henson, Jr.: no
    • Phil M. Hernandez: no
    • Charniele L. Herring: no
    • M. Keith Hodges: no
    • Patrick A. Hope: no
    • Hillary Pugh Kent: no
    • Karen Keys-Gamarra: no
    • Terry G. Kilgore: no
    • Paul E. Krizek: no
    • Amy J. Laufer: no
    • James A. "Jay" Leftwich: no
    • Destiny LeVere Bolling: no
    • Alfonso H. Lopez: no
    • Michelle Lopes Maldonado: no
    • Marty Martinez: no
    • John Chilton McAuliff: no
    • Adele Y. McClure: no
    • Garrett McGuire: no
    • Ellen H. McLaughlin: no
    • Joseph P. McNamara: no
    • Kirk McPike: no
    • Delores L. McQuinn: no
    • Leslie Chambers Mehta: no
    • James W. Morefield: no
    • May Nivar: no
    • Delores Oates: no
    • Israel D. O'Quinn: no
    • Justin Pence: no
    • Eric Phillips: no
    • Kimberly Pope Adams: no
    • Marcia S. "Cia" Price: no
    • Sam Rasoul: no
    • Atoosa R. Reaser: no
    • David A. Reid: no
    • Chris S. Runion: no
    • Charlie Schmidt: no
    • Don Scott: no
    • Phillip A. Scott: no
    • Holly M. Seibold: no
    • Briana D. Sewell: no
    • Irene Shin: no
    • Marcus B. Simon: no
    • Shelly A. Simonds: no
    • JJ Singh: no
    • Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr.: no
    • Anne Ferrell Tata: no
    • Joshua E. Thomas: no
    • Virgil Thornton: no
    • Luke E. Torian: no
    • Kathy K.L. Tran: no
    • H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr.: no
    • Wendell S. Walker: no
    • Jeion A. Ward: no
    • R. Lee Ware: no
    • Vivian E. Watts: no
    • Michael J. Webert: no
    • Madison Whittle: not voting
    • Bill Wiley: no
    • Rodney T. Willett: no
    • Wren M. Williams: no
    • Tony O. Wilt: no
    • Thomas C. Wright, Jr.: not voting
    • Scott A. Wyatt: no
    • Eric R. Zehr: no

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB355

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:35:59.552682Z

Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:

Source and document changesStatus and relationship changes

Use this data

Every field on this page is available from the free public API — no key or licence required. Fetch this bill as JSON: GET /api/v1/bills?jurisdiction=VA&identifier=HB 355. See the API docs or the MCP server for AI assistants.

Known limitations

  • Sponsor party and chamber affiliation are not yet captured by this API.
  • Committee referrals are not yet captured.

See the methodology page for data sources and limitations.