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Bill

HB 1947

Department of Education; survey of local education agencies on school-based mental and behavioral health services; report.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Elizabeth Bennett-Parker and 11 co-sponsors

Virginia requires Department of Education to survey school districts on mental health services and report findings to legislature by July 2025.

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0224)
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Bill Summary · HB 1947

Legislative bill overview

HB 1947 requires Virginia's Department of Education to conduct a comprehensive survey of all local education agencies (school districts) regarding their school-based mental and behavioral health services. The department must then compile and submit a detailed report to the General Assembly documenting what mental health services exist, gaps in coverage, and resource needs across the state.

Why is this important

This bill creates a statewide inventory of student mental health support systems, which is critical data for identifying underserved communities and informing future policy decisions. With youth mental health concerns rising nationally, understanding Virginia's current service landscape helps policymakers and school administrators allocate resources more effectively and advocate for additional funding where needed.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation burden: The survey adds administrative work for school districts already managing tight budgets and staffing constraints, potentially diverting resources from direct services
  • Data standardization: Without uniform definitions of "mental and behavioral health services," different districts may report inconsistently, reducing the report's utility
  • Action gap: The bill mandates reporting but does not require the state to fund or implement solutions based on findings, making it potentially symbolic rather than transformative

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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