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SB 171

Minor elementary or secondary school students admitted to inpatient treatment; discl. of discharge.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Barbara Favola and 1 co-sponsor

Virginia bill requiring inpatient mental health/substance treatment facilities to provide patient records to public schools when minors are admitted, raising privacy and liability questions.

Approved by Governor-Chapter 884 (effective 7/1/2026)
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Bill Summary · SB 171

Legislative bill overview

SB 171 requires that when a minor is admitted to inpatient mental health or substance abuse treatment, copies of relevant medical records must be provided to the student's public elementary or secondary school. The bill has already passed the Senate and is now under review by the House Committee on Education.

Why is this important

Schools need accurate information about students' mental health status and treatment to provide appropriate support, accommodations, and safety measures. However, this creates tension between educational access to health information and medical privacy protections that typically shield sensitive treatment records from disclosure without explicit consent.

Potential points of contention

  • Privacy concerns: Medical records regarding mental health treatment are highly sensitive; the bill's scope regarding what information schools receive and how it's protected remains unclear
  • Parental consent requirements: It's uncertain whether parental permission is required before records are shared with schools, or if admission alone triggers automatic disclosure
  • School responsibility and liability: Schools may face pressure to act on mental health information without clinical expertise, and questions arise about their obligations and liability if they mishandle the data

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

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