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Bill

HB 225

Marcus Alert Evaluation Task Force; created.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Patrick Hope and 1 co-sponsor

Virginia creates task force to evaluate Marcus Alert crisis intervention system's effectiveness and recommend program improvements statewide.

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0370)
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Bill Summary · HB 225

Legislative bill overview

HB 225 creates the Marcus Alert Evaluation Task Force in Virginia to assess the effectiveness and implementation of the Marcus Alert crisis intervention system. The task force will examine how the program functions across the state and make recommendations for improvements or modifications to the existing framework.

Why is this important

The Marcus Alert system allows citizens to request mental health crisis response instead of police for certain situations, representing a significant shift in public safety response. Evaluating its real-world performance is crucial to determine whether it's reducing unnecessary police involvement, improving outcomes for people in crisis, and identifying any gaps in coverage or effectiveness across different communities.

Potential points of contention

  • Resource allocation and cost: Creating a task force requires funding and staff time; some may question whether resources should go directly to expanding services rather than evaluation
  • Implementation challenges: The evaluation may reveal that Marcus Alert isn't reaching underserved areas or that coordination between agencies remains problematic, leading to calls for major restructuring
  • Police department perspective: Law enforcement may have concerns about how evaluation findings could be used to further limit their role in crisis response, or conversely, some advocates may worry the evaluation will be used to justify rolling back the program

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

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