RICHMOND — Lawmakers advanced a House bill requiring two state agencies to develop best practices for annual mental health screenings for students in grades six through 12, at a time when data shows rising reports of students struggling with mental health.

Del. Debra Gardner, D-Chesterfield, introduced House Bill 355 to require schools to begin annual mental health screenings at no cost. A substitute to the measure now requires the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Behavioral Health, to suggest the guidance and best practices for such screening by Jan. 1, 2027.

“What we’re trying to do is make sure that students (in grades) six through 12 have access to possible services,” Gardner said. “There are a lot of issues related to mental health that are going unnoticed.”

The screenings would serve as an early warning tool to identify potential risks rather than diagnose students, according to Gardner. At-risk students would get same-day intervention from a licensed professional.

Bilingual students and students with developmental and intellectual disabilities will receive accommodations.

This proposal is similar to existing efforts to expand mental health resources. Last year, lawmakers passed another bill introduced by Gardner, HB 1760. The bill developed a mental health screening and assessment tool for children in early childhood care with behavioral concerns.

Over 60% of youth with major depression do not receive any mental health treatment, according to a 2022 report from Mental Health America. The report ranked Virginia 37th in the nation for youth and adult access to mental health care. A lower number would indicate less access.

“We were having kids getting kicked out of day care,” Gardner said. “Under further look and study, they actually have some mental health issues that were not going identified early. It’s really important to be preventative and proactive than to wait.”

HB 355 will keep student screening results private. Parents can opt their children out of the screening process, according to the bill.

The DOE will advise local school boards on using evidence-based tools for the mental health screenings. The bill requires employee training in the administration of the tools, access to resources after the screenings, communication with families about the screenings and follow-up plans.

Anne Taydus, who identified herself as an education activist with Virginians for Children First, questioned the necessity for an additional screening practice.

“Every school division is already doing behavior and mental health screeners,” Taydus testified to a House Education subcommittee.

The Behavior Assessment System for Children is a behavioral screening approach that some schools use through teacher, parent, or self-report forms, Taydus said.

Gardner’s bill passed the House with a party-line vote of 64-33 on Feb. 10. It is now headed to the Senate for consideration.

Capital News Service is a program of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Richard T. Robertson School of Communication. Students in the program provide state government coverage for a variety of media outlets in Virginia.

https://www.dailypress.com/2026/02/21/virginia-house-mental-health-bill/