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HB957 • 2026

Public elementary & secondary schools; use 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to address bullying, etc.

An Act to require the Department of Education to direct each school board to encourage each public elementary and secondary school in the local division to promote or utilize the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to address student bullying and cyberbullying.

Education
Enacted

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how schools should promote the 988 Lifeline or what resources will be provided for implementation.

Using 988 Lifeline for Bullying Help

This law requires schools to promote or use the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to address bullying and cyberbullying.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Department of Education to direct school boards to encourage public elementary and secondary schools to promote or utilize the 988 Lifeline for addressing student bullying and cyberbullying.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Public elementary and secondary schools
  • Students dealing with bullying or cyberbullying

Terms To Know

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
A phone number (988) that people can call for help if they are feeling suicidal, depressed, or in crisis.
Bullying
Defined by existing Virginia law.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how schools should promote the 888 Lifeline.
  • It is unclear what resources will be provided to help schools implement this requirement.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 246 (effective 7/1/2026)

  2. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 246 (effective 7/1/2026)

  3. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0246)

  4. 2026-03-10 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

  5. 2026-03-10 Governor

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

  6. 2026-03-09 House

    Signed by Speaker

  7. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Signed by President

  8. 2026-03-09 House

    Enrolled

  9. 2026-03-09 House

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB957ER)

  10. 2026-03-09 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB957)

  11. 2026-03-02 Senate

    Read third time

  12. 2026-03-02 Senate

    Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  13. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Rules suspended

  14. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  15. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)

  16. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  17. 2026-02-26 Education and Health

    Reported from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)

  18. 2026-02-19 Public Education

    Assigned Education sub: Public Education

  19. 2026-02-16 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  20. 2026-02-16 Education and Health

    Referred to Committee on Education and Health

  21. 2026-02-13 House

    Read third time and passed House Block Vote (96-Y 0-N 0-A)

  22. 2026-02-12 House

    Read second time

  23. 2026-02-12 House

    committee substitute agreed to

  24. 2026-02-12 House

    Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  25. 2026-02-11 House

    Read first time

  26. 2026-02-09 Education

    Reported from Education with substitute (21-Y 0-N)

  27. 2026-02-09 Education

    Committee substitute printed 26107076D-H1

  28. 2026-02-09 Education

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB957)

  29. 2026-02-04 Early Childhood and Innovation

    House subcommittee offered

  30. 2026-02-04 Early Childhood and Innovation

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (10-Y 0-N)

  31. 2026-01-30 Early Childhood and Innovation

    Assigned HED sub: Early Childhood and Innovation

  32. 2026-01-30 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB957)

  33. 2026-01-13 House

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104766D

  34. 2026-01-13 Education

    Referred to Committee on Education

Official Summary Text

Student bullying and cyberbullying; resources.
Requires the Department of Education to direct each school board to encourage each public elementary and secondary school in the local division to promote or utilize the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to address student bullying and cyberbullying, as such terms are defined in relevant law.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
An Act to require the Department of Education to direct each school board to encourage each public elementary and secondary school in the local division to promote or utilize the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to address student bullying and cyberbullying.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1.
§ 1. The Department of Education shall direct each school board to encourage each public elementary and secondary school in the local division to promote or utilize the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to address student bullying and cyberbullying, as such terms are defined in §
22.1-276.01
of the Code of Virginia.