# Virginia HB225: Marcus Alert Evaluation Task Force; created.

Virginia HB225, Marcus Alert Evaluation Task Force; created., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Patrick A. Hope (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-08 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0370)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB225-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB225
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Marcus Alert Evaluation Task Force; created.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-08
- Last action: 2026-04-08, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0370)
- Sponsor: Patrick A. Hope (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 7 (218 yes, 1 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 4

## Summary

Marcus Alert Evaluation Task Force creation. Requires the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to convene and adjust and update the membership of a Marcus Alert Evaluation Task Force to assist in determining the effectiveness of the Marcus Alert system. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Behavioral Health Commission. This bill is identical to SB 514.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Phased rollout of Marcus Alert statewide: benefit, low. The state rolls out Marcus Alert in phases. Five programs were due by December 1, 2021, and five more by July 1, 2023. For 2023, each region chose the CSB or BHA that serves the most people, unless it was already chosen in 2021. More areas come online by July 1 of 2024, 2025, and 2026. Every CSB/BH…
- Planning, task force, and yearly reports: benefit, low. By July 1, 2021, the Department wrote a statewide Marcus Alert plan. It set 9-1-1 diversion rules, law‑enforcement backup agreements, standards, and roles. The Department now convenes a Marcus Alert Evaluation Task Force at least twice a year. Each year by November 15, the Department and the Task F…
- Statewide mental health crisis system: benefit, low. The law creates a statewide crisis system for behavioral health. It includes a 24/7 crisis call center, mobile crisis teams, community care teams, and short‑stay crisis centers. The goal is fast, nonhospital care and to divert some 9-1-1 calls away from police when safe. The Department of Behaviora…
- Who responds in a mental health crisis: benefit, low. Mobile crisis teams are made up of licensed mental health professionals. Police are not members, but can back them up under set protocols. Community care teams are led by mental health providers. They can include peer recovery specialists and, if the locality chooses, police. All teams must meet st…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Patrick A. Hope (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-24 | Senate | Passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 39 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-23 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 37 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-23 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-20 | Senate | Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services Block Vote | pass | 15 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-09 | House | Read third time and passed House Block Vote | pass | 98 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | House | Reported from Health and Human Services with amendment(s) | pass | 22 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-29 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations | pass | 7 | 1 |   |

## Actions (30)

- 2026-04-08: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0370) (Governor)
- 2026-04-08: Approved by Governor-Chapter 370 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 (House)
- 2026-02-26: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB225) (House)
- 2026-02-26: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB225ER) (House)
- 2026-02-26: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-02-26: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-02-24: Passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services Block Vote (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Read third time and passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-09: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB225) (House)
- 2026-02-06: Engrossed by House as amended (House)
- 2026-02-06: committee amendment agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-06: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-05: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-03: Reported from Health and Human Services with amendment(s) (22-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-29: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-01-29: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2026-01-19: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB225) (House)
- 2026-01-16: Assigned sub: Behavioral Health (House)
- 2026-01-08: Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services (House)
- 2026-01-08: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102861D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217735.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217734.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-02-26: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179578.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179577.PDF)
- Engrossed, 2026-02-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1114930.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1114929.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-02-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1113828.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100605.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101336.HTML)
- Introduced, 2026-01-08: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083159.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083158.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217735.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217734.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179578.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1179577.PDF)
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1114930.HTML)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1114929.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1113828.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100605.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1101336.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083159.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1083158.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB225-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).