Timothy Kaine (D-VA)
Supporting the Mental Health of Educators and Staff Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Supporting the Mental Health of Educators and Staff Act of 2026" aims to address the behavioral health and well-being of education professionals and school staff. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is tasked with disseminating best practices for suicide prevention and mental health resiliency. The bill establishes a national education and awareness initiative to encourage staff to seek help for mental health and substance use concerns while addressing associated stigma. It also authorizes grants to help state and local educational agencies implement programs like peer support and mental health care. Additionally, the act provides for training grants to include mental health strategies in educator preparation and professional development. Finally, the bill mandates reviews and reports to evaluate the effectiveness of these initiatives.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +6
Does this make mental health care easier to get?
The bill provides grants for mental health care, follow-up services, and telehealth for educators and school staff.
- Scored +4
Does this put more money into public schools?
The bill authorizes new grant programs specifically for state and local educational agencies to support staff mental health.
- Scored +2
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill prioritizes funding for schools in high-need areas that often serve low-income communities.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Mental Health Resources: The bill directs the Secretary to identify and share best practices for preventing suicide and improving resiliency among school staff (Section 2).
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Reduced Stigma: An education and awareness initiative will be established to address the stigma associated with seeking mental health and substance use disorder services (Section 3, subsection a, clause 1 and 2).
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Access to Specialized Care: Grant recipients may use funds to provide mental health care, follow-up services, or referrals by licensed professionals, including via telehealth (Section 4, subsection a, clause 3, subclause D).
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Enhanced Training: The bill allows for training grants to include mental health and substance use disorder strategies in educator preparation and professional development programs (Section 4, subsection b).
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Targeted Support for High-Need Areas: Priority for grants will be given to eligible entities in areas with a high percentage of schools receiving financial assistance under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (Section 4, subsection a, clause 4).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly stated in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Does this make mental health care easier to get? — The bill provides grants for mental health care, follow-up services, and telehealth for educators and school staff.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into public schools? — The bill authorizes new grant programs specifically for state and local educational agencies to support staff mental health.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill prioritizes funding for schools in high-need areas that often serve low-income communities. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The bill provides targeted support for educational agencies that may serve high-need urban areas.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill prioritizes high-need school areas which are often correlated with lower income levels.
- 4/30/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Angus KingIndependent · Maine
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon