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HB 1446

School nurses; sickle cell disease training.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Bonita Anthony and 41 co-sponsors

Virginia requires school nurses to complete training on recognizing and responding to sickle cell disease symptoms and crises in students.

Approved by Governor-Chapter 855 (effective 7/1/2026)
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Bill Summary · HB 1446

Legislative bill overview

HB 1446 requires Virginia school nurses to receive training on sickle cell disease, including recognition of symptoms, emergency response protocols, and student management strategies. The bill mandates this training be incorporated into school nurse professional development and continuing education requirements.

Why is this important

Sickle cell disease disproportionately affects African American students, with roughly 1 in 365 Black births resulting in the condition. Proper school nurse training can enable faster recognition and appropriate response to sickle cell crises, potentially preventing serious complications or deaths during the school day when students spend significant time away from parents.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs: Training program development, delivery, and nurse time away from other duties require funding and resource allocation that may strain school budgets
  • Scope of mandate: Questions about whether specialized disease training should be mandatory for all school nurses versus optional professional development or targeted to high-prevalence districts
  • Medical oversight: Clarification needed on whether nurses can administer medications (like pain management) during crises and what physician protocols must be in place

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

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