# Virginia SB513: Comprehensive mental health, substance abuse, & developmt. disability crisis services; written plan.

Virginia SB513, Comprehensive mental health, substance abuse, & developmt. disability crisis services; written plan., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by R. Creigh Deeds (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-13 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0823)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB513-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB513
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Comprehensive mental health, substance abuse, & developmt. disability crisis services; written plan.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-04-13, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0823)
- Sponsor: R. Creigh Deeds (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 8 (228 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 5

## Summary

Comprehensive crisis system; Marcus alert system; Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; comprehensive mental health, substance abuse, and developmental disability crisis services; written plan. Allows the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, in collaboration with the Department of Criminal Justice Services, to amend the written plan created pursuant to relevant law after the publication of such written plan, provided that (i) the stakeholders listed in relevant law are consulted during the development of any new language to be added to such written plan and (ii) a public comment period of no less than 30 days is held prior to the finalization of such written plan. The bill also provides that the written plan shall serve as the operational framework for relevant components of the comprehensive crisis system and the Marcus alert system and that state agencies and local implementing partners shall align their policies, procedures, and operations on an ongoing basis with the requirements and guidance set forth in the written plan, as amended. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Behavioral Health Commission. This bill is identical to HB 453.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Marcus Alert expands statewide by 2028: benefit, medium. By December 1, 2021 the state establishes five Marcus Alert programs, one per region, with community care or mobile crisis teams. By July 1, 2023 it adds five more, choosing CSBs or BHAs that serve the largest populations and not repeating 2021 sites. The state continues adding systems by July 1, 2…
- Clinician-led crisis teams, limited police role: benefit, low. Community care teams are led by mental health providers. They may include peer recovery specialists and law-enforcement officers, with police support following § 9.1-193 protocols. Mobile crisis teams are made up of qualified or licensed mental health professionals and may include a peer or family…
- Marcus Alert plan and public input: benefit, low. By July 1, 2021, the Department develops a written Marcus Alert plan with partner agencies and stakeholders. The plan lists crisis resources and funding, reviews crisis needs, and sets 911 diversion and police backup protocols. It assigns roles, standards, and equity measures. Any plan changes requ…
- Statewide crisis system for mental health help: benefit, low. The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services builds a statewide crisis system. It includes a crisis call center, community care and mobile crisis teams, crisis stabilization centers, and the Marcus Alert system. Work happens as funding is appropriated.
- Stronger standards for crisis hotlines: benefit, low. Crisis call centers in this system must meet § 37.2-311.2 and National Suicide Prevention Lifeline standards. These rules cover risk checks and how staff engage callers.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: R. Creigh Deeds (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-25 | House | Passed House | pass | 98 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-19 | House | Reported from Health and Human Services | pass | 21 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | Senate | Rehabilitation and Social Services Amendment agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-02 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-02 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-30 | Senate | Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with amendment | pass | 15 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-22 | Senate | Rereferred from Education and Health to Rehabilitation and Social Services | pass | 14 | 0 |   |

## Actions (33)

- 2026-04-13: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0823) (Governor)
- 2026-04-13: Approved by Governor-Chapter 823 (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 (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB513) (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB513ER) (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-02-27: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-02-25: Passed House (98-Y 0-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-25: Read third time (House)
- 2026-02-24: Passed by for the day (House)
- 2026-02-24: Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-23: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-19: Reported from Health and Human Services (21-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-09: Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services (House)
- 2026-02-09: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-09: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-04: Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB513) (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Rehabilitation and Social Services Amendment agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Engrossed by Senate as amended Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Passed by for the day (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Reported from Rehabilitation and Social Services with amendment (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-22: Rereferred from Education and Health to Rehabilitation and Social Services (14-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-21: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB513) (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Education and Health (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102859D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222816.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222815.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181692.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181691.PDF)
- Engrossed, 2026-02-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108637.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108636.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-01-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103875.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105036.HTML)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090634.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090633.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/1222816.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1222815.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181692.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181691.PDF)
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108637.HTML)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108636.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1103875.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105036.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090634.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090633.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-SB513-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).