Virginia House Bill 603
Session 2024
Public elementary and secondary schools; programs of instruction on mental health education.
Became Law
Became Law on Apr 17, 2024
Origin Chamber
House
Type
Bill
Bill Number
603
State
Virginia
Session
2024
Motion Text
VOTE: Adoption (55-Y 42-N)
House Roll Call Votes
Yes
Yes
Didn't Vote
Yes
Didn't Vote
Didn't Vote
Reaser, Atoosa R.
Yes
Yes
Summary
Public elementary and secondary schools; programs of instruction; mental health education; curriculum guidelines; instruction required. Requires each public elementary, middle, and high school to provide at each grade level, in addition to health instruction, an additional age-appropriate course of instruction on mental health. The bill directs the Board of Education to develop mental health curriculum guidelines for an age-appropriate, sequential mental health curriculum for each grade level and requires such curriculum guidelines to include instruction on (i) general themes of social and emotional learning, including self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision making, relationship skills, and social awareness; (ii) the signs and symptoms of common mental health challenges; (iii) mental health wellness and healthy strategies for coping with stress and negative feelings, including conflict resolution skills; (iv) the importance of and guidance on seeking assistance from an adult or mental health professional, including information on services offered within the school or the local school division; (v) the prevalence of mental health challenges and the importance of overcoming common stigmas surrounding such mental health challenges; (vi) the importance of mental health to a student's overall well-being, including physical health and academic success; and (vii) at such grade levels as the Board deems appropriate, the connection between mental health and substance use disorders and the safe use of and risks of abuse of prescription drugs. The bill permits the Board to consult with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and other mental health experts in developing such curriculum guidelines and requires the Board to submit such guidelines to the State Board of Health for approval. The bill requires the Board to review and update by the beginning of the 2025–2026 school year the health Standards of Learning for each grade level to include such instruction on the mental health curriculum guidelines.
Public elementary and secondary schools; health instruction, certain topics relating to mental health. Requires health instruction provided to elementary and secondary school students to include certain topics relating to mental health that are enumerated in the bill, including (i) general themes of social and emotional learning, including self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision making, relationship skills, and social awareness; (ii) signs and symptoms of common mental health challenges; and (iii) mental health wellness and healthy strategies for coping with stress and negative feelings, including conflict resolution skills.
Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24100874D
January 9, 2024
Committee substitute printed 24106110D-H1
January 29, 2024
HB603ER
February 29, 2024
HB603ER2
April 17, 2024
Amendment: HB603AG
Fiscal Impact Statement: HB603FH1122.PDF
Fiscal Impact Statement: HB603FER122.PDF
Sort by most recent
04/17/2024
Office of the Governor
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0812)
04/17/2024
House
Enacted, Chapter 812 (effective 7/1/24)
04/17/2024
Senate
Signed by President as reenrolled
04/17/2024
House
Signed by Speaker as reenrolled
04/17/2024
House
Reenrolled bill text (HB603ER2)
04/17/2024
House
Reenrolled
04/17/2024
Office of the Governor
Governor's recommendation adopted
04/17/2024
Senate
Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (40-Y 0-N)
04/17/2024
House
VOTE: Adoption (55-Y 42-N)
04/17/2024
House
House concurred in Governor's recommendation (55-Y 42-N)
04/08/2024
House
Governor's recommendation received by House
03/11/2024
Office of the Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 8, 2024
03/11/2024
House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 11, 2024
03/03/2024
Senate
Signed by President
02/29/2024
House
Signed by Speaker
02/29/2024
House
Impact statement from DPB (HB603ER)
02/29/2024
House
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB603ER)
02/29/2024
House
Enrolled
02/26/2024
Senate
Passed Senate (23-Y 17-N)
02/26/2024
Senate
Read third time
02/23/2024
Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N)
02/22/2024
Senate
Reported from Education and Health (11-Y 4-N)
02/14/2024
Senate
Assigned Education and Health Sub: Public Education
02/08/2024
House
Impact statement from DPB (HB603H1)
02/05/2024
Senate
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
02/05/2024
Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed
02/02/2024
House
VOTE: Passage (59-Y 41-N)
02/02/2024
House
Read third time and passed House (59-Y 41-N)
02/01/2024
House
Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB603H1
02/01/2024
House
Committee substitute agreed to 24106110D-H1
02/01/2024
House
Read second time
01/31/2024
House
Read first time
01/29/2024
House
Committee substitute printed 24106110D-H1
01/29/2024
House
Reported from Education with substitute (14-Y 8-N)
01/23/2024
House
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendments (8-Y 0-N)
01/19/2024
House
Assigned Education sub: K-12 Subcommittee
01/09/2024
House
Referred to Committee on Education
01/09/2024
House
Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24100874D
Sources
Open States
Record Created
Jan 10, 2024 12:05:10 AM
Record Updated
May 2, 2024 12:11:34 AM