Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program; established, development of modules, report.
Families with young children who exhibit developmental delays or behavioral health concerns may receive support through mental health consultation services.
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SB 259 — Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program; established, development of modules, report.
Last action — Continued from last session
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
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✓Introduced
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2In Committee
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3Passed Senate
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4Passed House of Delegates
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced January 12, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
LowHow often bills like it became law.
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In Committee
Current position in the legislative process.
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1 sponsor
1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
In plain language
The bill establishes an Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program.
This bill creates a program to provide mental health consultation services for young children with developmental and behavioral concerns. It includes the development of resources and annual reporting on the program's effectiveness.
What this means for you
- Families: Families with young children who exhibit developmental delays or behavioral health concerns may receive support through mental health consultation services.
Summary
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program established; pilot programs; development of modules; report. Establishes the Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program, to be administered by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (the Department) in coordination with the Department of Education and the Department of Health, for the purpose of providing and expanding the accessibility of early childhood mental health consultation services, as that term is defined in the bill. The bill requires, pursuant to the Program, early childhood mental health consultation services shall be provided to families of children three through five years of age who exhibit developmental delays and behavioral health concerns and to early childhood care and education programs as enumerated in the bill. The bill requires the Department, in administering the Program, to (i) develop, or contract with community services boards to develop, and make available to early childhood care and education programs and providers developmental readiness modules, in accordance with the requirements of the bill; (ii) designate three pilot regions for initial implementation of the Program, with implementation beginning no later than January 1, 2027; and (iii) submit to the Governor and the General Assembly by November 1 of each year a report on the implementation and outcomes of the Program for each pilot region selected for initial implementation. The provisions of the bill relating to initial implementation of the Program in the pilot regions shall expire on July 1, 2029.
Bill Text
- Introduced View text Current pdf
Compared against the Code of Virginia as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.
This bill amends 1 section(s) of the Code of Virginia: 2.2-5215.
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2.2-5215
A. As used in this section:
Inserts “A. As used in this section:”.
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2.2-5215
"Community services board" means the same as that term is defined in § 37.2-100.
Inserts “"Community services board" means the same as that term is defined in § 37.2-100.”.
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2.2-5215
"Department" means the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.
Inserts “"Department" means the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.”.
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2.2-5215
"Developmental readiness modules" means evidence-based curricula and training materials designed to build social, emotional, and behavi
Inserts “"Developmental readiness modules" means evidence-based curricula and training materials designed to build social, emotional, and behavi”.
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2.2-5215
oral competencies in children from three to five years of age in order to prepare such children for school entry.
Inserts “oral competencies in children from three to five years of age in order to prepare such children for school entry.”.
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2.2-5215
"Early childhood mental health consultation
Inserts “"Early childhood mental health consultation”.
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2.2-5215
services
Inserts “services”.
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2.2-5215
" means a problem-solving and capa
Inserts “" means a problem-solving and capa”.
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2.2-5215
city-building intervention service implemented within early childhood care and education programs through which a mental health professional is partnered with early childhood educators and families to improve the ability of staff, families, and early child
Inserts “city-building intervention service implemented within early childhood care and education programs through which a mental health professional is partnered with early childhood educators and families to improve the ability of staff, families, and early child”.
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2.2-5215
hood c
Inserts “hood c”.
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2.2-5215
are and education programs
Inserts “are and education programs”.
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2.2-5215
to prevent, identify, treat, and reduce the impact of mental health problems among children from birth to five years of age.
Inserts “to prevent, identify, treat, and reduce the impact of mental health problems among children from birth to five years of age.”.
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2.2-5215
"Pilot region" means a
Inserts “"Pilot region" means a”.
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2.2-5215
geographic
Inserts “geographic”.
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2.2-5215
area of the Commonwealth designated by the Department for initial impl
Inserts “area of the Commonwealth designated by the Department for initial impl”.
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2.2-5215
ementation of the Program.
Inserts “ementation of the Program.”.
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2.2-5215
"Program" means the Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program established pursuant to this section.
Inserts “"Program" means the Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program established pursuant to this section.”.
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2.2-5215
B.
Inserts “B.”.
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2.2-5215
With such funds as are appropriated fo
Inserts “With such funds as are appropriated fo”.
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2.2-5215
r this purpose
Inserts “r this purpose”.
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2.2-5215
pursuant to the general appropriation act
Inserts “pursuant to the general appropriation act”.
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2.2-5215
, t
Inserts “, t”.
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2.2-5215
he Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program is hereby established, to be administered by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services in coordination with the Department of Education and the Department of Health, for the purposes of providin
Inserts “he Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program is hereby established, to be administered by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services in coordination with the Department of Education and the Department of Health, for the purposes of providin”.
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2.2-5215
g and expanding the accessibility of early childhood mental health consultation services in the Commonwealth. Pursuant to the Program, early childhood mental health consultation services shall be provided to:
Inserts “g and expanding the accessibility of early childhood mental health consultation services in the Commonwealth. Pursuant to the Program, early childhood mental health consultation services shall be provided to:”.
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2.2-5215
1. Families of children
Inserts “1. Families of children”.
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2.2-5215
three
Inserts “three”.
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2.2-5215
through
Inserts “through”.
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2.2-5215
five years of age who exhibit developmental delays or behavioral health concerns;
Inserts “five years of age who exhibit developmental delays or behavioral health concerns;”.
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2.2-5215
2. Licensed child day centers, family day homes, and preschool programs;
Inserts “2. Licensed child day centers, family day homes, and preschool programs;”.
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2.2-5215
3. Head Start and Early Head Start programs;
Inserts “3. Head Start and Early Head Start programs;”.
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2.2-5215
4.
Inserts “4.”.
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2.2-5215
Virginia Preschool Initiative programs; and
Inserts “Virginia Preschool Initiative programs; and”.
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2.2-5215
5. Prekindergarten programs at public schools.
Inserts “5. Prekindergarten programs at public schools.”.
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2.2-5215
C. The Department shall develop, or contract with community services boards to develop,
Inserts “C. The Department shall develop, or contract with community services boards to develop,”.
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2.2-5215
and make available to community services boards, local departments of s
Inserts “and make available to community services boards, local departments of s”.
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2.2-5215
o
Inserts “o”.
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2.2-5215
cial services,
Inserts “cial services,”.
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2.2-5215
school boards, Head Start programs, and licensed child care providers in the Commonwealth
Inserts “school boards, Head Start programs, and licensed child care providers in the Commonwealth”.
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2.2-5215
developmental readiness modules that include:
Inserts “developmental readiness modules that include:”.
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2.2-5215
1. Evidence-based curricula for building social and emotional competencies in children three to five
Inserts “1. Evidence-based curricula for building social and emotional competencies in children three to five”.
Action History
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Continued from last session
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Continued to next session in Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 1-N)
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Reported from Education and Health with amendments and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
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Senate committee offered
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Senate subcommittee offered
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Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB259)
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Assigned Education sub: Public Education
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Referred to Committee on Education and Health
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Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102173D
Sponsors
- Jr. William M. Stanley · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 147 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (147)
147 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 147 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does SB 259 do?
- Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program established; pilot programs; development of modules; report. Establishes the Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program, to be administered by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (the Department) in coordination with the Department of Education and the Department of Health, for the purpose of providing and expanding the accessibility of early childhood mental health consultation services, as that term is defined in the bill. The bill requires, pursuant to the Program, early childhood mental health consultation services shall be provided to families of children three through five years of age who exhibit developmental delays and behavioral health concerns and to early childhood care and education programs as enumerated in the bill. The bill requires the Department, in administering the Program, to (i) develop, or contract with community services boards to develop, and make available to early childhood care and education programs and providers developmental readiness modules, in accordance with the requirements of the bill; (ii) designate three pilot regions for initial implementation of the Program, with implementation beginning no later than January 1, 2027; and (iii) submit to the Governor and the General Assembly by November 1 of each year a report on the implementation and outcomes of the Program for each pilot region selected for initial implementation. The provisions of the bill relating to initial implementation of the Program in the pilot regions shall expire on July 1, 2029.
- Who sponsors SB 259?
- SB 259 is sponsored by William M. Stanley, Jr..
- What is the current status of SB 259?
- This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced January 12, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
- Where can I track SB 259?
- Track SB 259 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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