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HB325 • 2026

Fire Programs, Department of; development of mental health awareness training.

An Act to amend and reenact § 9.1-203.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Department of Fire Programs; mental health awareness training.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Sullivan
Last action
2026-04-06
Official status
Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not specify a deadline or mention continuing education credits, which may be important details omitted from the candidate explanation.

Firefighter Mental Health Training

This law requires the Department of Fire Programs to develop a two-hour online mental health training course for firefighters by December 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Department of Fire Programs to create a standardized, two-hour virtual asynchronous mental health awareness training program for firefighters that covers specific topics such as signs and symptoms of stress, depression, anxiety, trauma, compulsive behaviors, addiction, stigmas, aggressive behavior responses, available treatments, and self-care techniques.
  • Allows fire departments to use the Department's standardized training or develop their own based on it.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Fire Programs
  • Firefighters in Virginia

Terms To Know

Virtual asynchronous training
Online training that firefighters can complete at any time, without needing to be present with an instructor.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if the Department of Fire Programs fails to develop the training program by the deadline.
  • It is unclear how much funding will be provided for developing and implementing this new training requirement.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 109 (effective 7/1/2026)

  2. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 109 (effective 7/1/2026)

  3. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0109)

  4. 2026-03-14 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

  5. 2026-03-14 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  6. 2026-03-11 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB325)

  7. 2026-03-10 House

    Signed by Speaker

  8. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Signed by President

  9. 2026-03-10 House

    Enrolled

  10. 2026-03-10 House

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB325ER)

  11. 2026-03-03 House

    Senate substitute agreed to by House (95-Y 3-N 0-A)

  12. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Read third time

  13. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

  14. 2026-02-27 General Laws and Technology

    Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)

  15. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (37-Y 0-N 0-A)

  16. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Rules suspended

  17. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  18. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  19. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  20. 2026-02-25 Finance and Appropriations

    Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)

  21. 2026-02-19 General Laws and Technology

    Committee substitute printed 26108088D-S1

  22. 2026-02-19 General Laws and Technology

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB325)

  23. 2026-02-18 General Laws and Technology

    Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 0-N)

  24. 2026-02-18 Senate

    Senate committee offered

  25. 2026-02-06 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  26. 2026-02-06 General Laws and Technology

    Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

  27. 2026-02-05 House

    Read third time and passed House (90-Y 7-N 0-A)

  28. 2026-02-04 House

    Read second time and engrossed

  29. 2026-02-03 House

    Read first time

  30. 2026-01-30 Appropriations

    Reported from Appropriations (21-Y 0-N)

  31. 2026-01-28 Transportation & Public Safety

    Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 0-N)

  32. 2026-01-26 Transportation & Public Safety

    Assigned HAPP sub: Transportation & Public Safety

  33. 2026-01-23 Public Safety

    Reported from Public Safety and referred to Appropriations (20-Y 2-N)

  34. 2026-01-22 Subcommittee #2

    Subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 0-N)

  35. 2026-01-16 Subcommittee #2

    Assigned HPS sub: Subcommittee #2

  36. 2026-01-15 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB325)

  37. 2026-01-11 House

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102356D

  38. 2026-01-11 Public Safety

    Referred to Committee on Public Safety

Official Summary Text

Department of Fire Programs; mental health awareness training.
Provides that the Department of Fire Programs shall develop a standardized, two-hour virtual asynchronous training program on mental health awareness tailored to firefighters that includes training on each subject matter set forth in current law. The bill provides the option for each fire department to use such standardized training program as guidance in developing its own mental health awareness training for its personnel. This bill is identical to SB 140.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
An Act to amend and reenact §
9.1-203.1
of the Code of Virginia, relating to Department of Fire Programs; mental health awareness training.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §
9.1-203.1
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§
9.1-203.1
. Firefighter mental health awareness training.
A. Each fire department as defined in §
27-6.01
shall develop curricula for mental health awareness training for its personnel, which shall include training regarding the following:
1. Understanding signs and symptoms of cumulative stress, depression, anxiety, exposure to acute and chronic trauma, compulsive behaviors, and addiction;
2. Combating and overcoming stigmas;
3. Responding appropriately to aggressive behaviors such as domestic violence and harassment;
4. Accessing available mental health treatment and resources; and
5. Managing stress, self-care techniques, and resiliency.
B. Any fire department may develop the mental health awareness training curricula in conjunction with other fire departments or firefighter stakeholder groups or may use any training program, developed by any entity, that satisfies the criteria set forth in subsection A.
C. Firefighters who receive mental health awareness training in accordance with this section shall receive appropriate continuing education credits from the Department of Fire Programs and the Virginia Fire Services Board.
2. That the Department of Fire Programs shall develop a standardized, two-hour virtual asynchronous training program on mental health awareness tailored for firefighters that includes training on each subject matter set forth in subsection A of §
9.1-203.1
of the Code of Virginia, as amended by this act, no later than December 1, 2026. To meet the requirements of §
9.1-203.1
of the Code of Virginia, as amended by this act, each fire department in the Commonwealth may use such standardized training program or may use such standardized training program as guidance in developing its own mental health awareness training for its personnel.