Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed a bipartisan package of school safety legislation aimed at improving emergency preparedness, student support and violence prevention in Virginia schools.
The new laws strengthen training on red flag laws, require better preparation for teachers to identify student mental health challenges and update internet safety education. They also allow schools to equip classrooms with wearable panic alarms and expand support services for at-risk students.
“As the parent of three daughters in Virginia public schools and a former federal law enforcement officer, nothing is more important to me than the safety of Virginia’s kids,” Spanberger said. “Every Virginia parent deserves peace of mind knowing their kids are safe, supported, and set up for success — and that their school is prepared for any emergency.”
Below are the bills that Spanberger signed:
- HB1071 (Delegate Amy Laufer) — Strengthening training on red flag laws.
- HB38 (Delegate Rozia Henson, Jr.) — Training teachers to help identify students experiencing mental health challenges.
- HB171 (Delegate Alex Askew) — Protecting kids by modernizing required internet safety education in schools.
- HB592 (Delegate Shelly Simonds) — Permitting school boards to provide teachers with wearable panic alarm systems in the classroom to more quickly alert law enforcement during emergencies.
- HB195 (Delegate Delores McQuinn), SB33 (Senator Barbara Favola) — Investing in greater classroom support for at-risk students.
- HB1153 (Delegate Sam Rasoul), SB820 (Senator David Suetterlein) — Reducing youth violence by expanding the Community Builders Pilot Program established in Roanoke City Public Schools and Petersburg City Public Schools.
- HB222 (Delegate Patrick Hope) — Adopting standardized safety rules to make sure children are safe at public pools.
- HB210 (Delegate Cia Price) — Directing a statewide report to assess school meal debt in Virginia school divisions.