Panel backs bill to form work group on mental health screening for children ages 0–5

House Bill 17-60 directs the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) and the Department of Education to convene a work group of relevant stakeholders to develop a plan for a mental health screening and assessment tool for children aged 5 and younger in early childhood care and education settings. The work group would report findings and recommendations to the chairs of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees by November 2025.

The bill’s patron told the subcommittee that the measure aims to help identify emotional and behavioral challenges earlier and to provide education and referral resources for providers and parents. "The goal is to be able to have a tool where in these early childhood settings, they can be screened, assessed, and referred, where parents can be educated," the patron said.

Members of the Medical Society of Virginia and other stakeholders were noted as supporters. Senator Durant said he was "very much on the team" with the bill but asked for additional time to review details, and the senator announced an abstention during the roll call. The transcript shows a recorded abstention by Senator Durant during the vote; the committee nonetheless agreed to recommend the bill to the full committee.

The subcommittee's action was to report the bill to the full Education and Health Committee. The committee chair noted the bill is a Section 1 bill (a work‑group/report bill) and that the sponsor had bipartisan House support (72–24 in the House).

The work group would include representatives from DBHDS, the Department of Education, the Medical Society of Virginia and other stakeholders and would focus on early identification, intervention and support prior to kindergarten.