On February 2nd the senate and house money committees reported their respective amendments to the state budget for 2025-2026. Once adopted by the full senate and house, negotiations between the two committees will reconcile the differences, and eventually the legislature sends a budget to the Governor.
Although several proposed additions to support mental health were not included, many were. The good news is that between the legislature and the Governor the final budget should end up supporting more access to mental health services.
Below are a few of the mental health related amendments, and comparisons between funding amounts proposed by the Governor and the House and Senate committees.
Community Services Boards – Prevention Services – Additional state funding as previous federal funding expires.
Gov: $0
House: $8.0 million
Senate: $0
Expand the Special Conservators of the Peace pilot program to maintain custody of an individual under an ECO/TDO, relieving law enforcement officers from filling this role.
Gov: $35.2 million
House: $5.0 million
Senate: $4.2 million
Additional Marcus Alert/Co-Responder Teams to respond to crisis situations.
Gov: $1.2 million
House: $4.8 million
Senate: $7.8 million
Sustain and expand the Adult Psychiatric Access Line to allow primary care physicians to better treat patients with mental health or substance use disorders.
Gov: $1.5 million
House: $2.3 million
Senate: $2.5 million
Increase Licensed Therapists – to pay for supervisory clinical hours required to become a licensed counselor or social worker.
Gov: $0
House: $1.1 million
Senate: $1.1 million
Perinatal and postpartum depression – Department of Health (VDH) to establish a public awareness campaign, develop and distribute educational materials, and create an online resource hub focused on perinatal and postpartum depression.
Gov: $553,200
House: $553,200
Senate: $553,200
Expand access to maternal mental health services -The Virginia Health Care Foundation to administer a grant program for community organizations to expand access to maternal mental health services.
Gov: $0
House: $500,000
Senate: $0
Expand pilot programs for the diversion and discharge of individuals with dementia or geriatric individuals in state hospitals
Gov: $0
House: $2.0 million
Senate: $0
Outpatient competency restoration services
Gov: $0
House: $1.5 million
Senate: $0
Fund Youth Peer Support Specialists – to support 10.0 youth peer support specialists and associated training costs at Community Services Boards.
Gov: $777,000
House: same
Senate: same
Add Emergency Regulatory Language for Peer Support Trainees. Includes budget language to allow services provided by peer recovery specialist trainees completing their required supervision hour to be reimbursed by Medicaid.
Gov: Included
House: same
Senate: same
These and additional amendments are available through the links below, where you can sometimes find more information about the issue. Once the members of the conference committee are known, you can contact them to encourage support for items in the house or senate versions.
