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Bill

Bill

HJ 441

Elementary/secondary schools; Va. Com. on youth to study policies to support student mental health.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Marty Martinez and 1 co-sponsor

Virginia will conduct a two-year study to identify funding, resources, and programs to improve K–12 student mental health, with formal reports to guide future policy.

Tabled in Rules (15-Y 0-N)
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Bill Summary · HJ 441

Summary of HJ 441 (2025)

What the bill is

  • House Joint Resolution directing the Virginia Commission on Youth to study and recommend policies to support student mental health in Virginia’s elementary and secondary schools.
  • Not a bill that enacts policy itself; it creates a two-year study and reporting process with targeted recommendations.

Purpose and intent

  • Addresses ongoing concerns about serious and persistent mental health issues among public K–12 students.
  • Aims to identify concrete solutions to improve student mental health through enhanced funding/resources, training, health-service partnerships, curricula, research/evaluation, and public awareness.

Key provisions and requirements

  • Study focus areas:
    • Funding and resource improvements for student mental health
    • Training and professional development for school staff
    • Partnerships with health services and providers
    • Curriculum development related to student mental health
    • Research, evaluation, and data collection
    • Public awareness campaigns about student mental health
  • Technical and procedural support:
    • Behavioral Health Commission provides technical assistance
    • Staff of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations assist
    • All Commonwealth agencies may be asked to assist the Commission on Youth
  • Deliverables and reporting:
    • Executive summaries due by the first day of the next Regular Session for each year (2025 and 2026)
    • Each summary must indicate whether the Commission intends to publish a full report as a House or Senate document
    • Full reports, summaries, and related documents to be posted on the General Assembly website
  • Timeline:
    • First-year meetings completed by November 30, 2025
    • Second-year meetings completed by November 30, 2026

Affected parties and potential impact

  • Primary: Virginia Commission on Youth; Virginia Department of Education; other Commonwealth agencies they may request assistance from
  • Secondary: School districts, principals, teachers, school counselors, students and families
  • Potential impact if findings lead to action: guidance for future legislation or budget priorities to bolster mental health resources and programs in schools

Status and procedural context

  • Introduced: January 5, 2025; Prefiled January 5, 2025; Offered January 13, 2025
  • Referred to: Committee on Rules
  • Current status: Tabled in Rules (15-Y 0-N) as of January 29, 2025
  • Legislative nature: A non-binding study directive that, if pursued, would generate executive summaries and two annual reports for consideration in future General Assembly sessions

Why it matters

  • Signals legislative prioritization of student mental health and a structured, data-driven approach to identify funding, program, and policy needs.
  • Establishes a clear, two-year timeline for expert review and public reporting, with oversight and coordination across multiple state bodies.

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

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