I believe the current law to be restrictive of school staff members' ability to monitor T1D students and/or help intervene in emergency situations. The current law should be updated to reflect the realities of the current technology and best practices to keep students safe.

This is an economic issue as well as a health, safety and human rights issue. If children’s diabetes isn’t managed properly at school, they can’t maximize their academic potential. If parents don’t have faith in the school’s ability to keep their child safe and healthy, they are not only emotionally distraught but distracted at work. I know this from personal experience and having to work part-time because my son’s elementary school could not fully accommodate his needs. Please pass this bill. Thank you.

This will help a little girl I love dearly very much at school. Being 10 is hard enough , having diabetes and being 10 is even harder. She needs as much support, backed up by information, to feel safe at school.

I support the bill as a teacher and a type 1 diabetic.

As a mother of a T1D in first grade, I ask that you support this bill. It is a constant struggle getting schools on board with the changing needs. Treatment has advanced and the laws supporting these students need to keep up. Thank you for your time and support. Megan Atkinson, Hanover County resident

I highly encourage you to pass bill HB1301 in support of Va’s children living with Type One Diabetes. The current Bill is far out of date and our children, including mine deserve to have the best care possible especially when attending school.

Please support this bill. We must support students’ medical care for those with diabetes in the educational setting. As a substitute teacher, I feel passionately about this. These students need the toolbox to do their “jobs” as well as possible. It is an absolute travesty that the United States has the tools available but has not yet provided them to children. With all of the bills that are passed, this one seems to be a no brainer. Please support our diabetic children!

In support of House Bill 1301 My name is Treina Owen and this my son Karson Owen, 14. We both live with type one diabetes. I was diagnosed 30 years ago and blind due to diabetic retinopathy and Karson, diagnosed 6 years ago next month. Our daughter, Kamryn is 24 and was diagnosed at 5 years old. I support this bill because there have been many changes within the past 27 years and the code should reflect those changes. Imagine Kamryn going to the nurse’s office to receive an insulin injection through a syringe as well as a finger prick to test her blood sugar for every snack and meal she ate at school and the nurse calling each time to discuss. Imagine a her not being able to go on a school field trip unless the school nurse or parent can attend. Now, the real emergency is when the school nurse is out of school for the day with no back up to the back up. Imagine Kamryn getting picked on saying she’s the nurse’s pet because she leaves class early for lunch and gets to cut the line to get her lunch first, all while missing instruction time. That is what we experienced starting 2006. Fast forward to 2020 when Karson was diagnosed. There was no one-week stay in the hospital like his sister, just a next day Dr visit. There was a short time on injections with an insulin pen while we waited for his insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor. These two life-saving technological advances, along with his cellphone and smart watch all work together via Bluetooth. Karson’s insulin pump can deliver basal units all day long and he can either manually bolus on his insulin pump or his cellphone insulin pump app. This means there is no need for insulin administration from a syringe through a school nurse. Thankfully, with all of this technology, anyone with the follow capabilities on remote devices can monitor, on multiple devices, multiple users simultaneously. If you could see my phone I’m personally following 4, to include myself on my phone, watch, and iPad. We are able to text our son about important blood sugar events throughout the day. These items are his life line. This same remote technology can be beneficial in our schools and on our school buses, where they are the closest to our children during school hours. Karson attends a speciality center and rides a regular school bus then a hub bus, to and from school which is a 1 1/2 ride. That is a long ride and he sometimes falls asleep. His bus drivers could monitor and be alerted of blood sugar emergencies to and from school in the event he isn’t just asleep. With remote devices in the school system and on school buses like iPads, cell phones, and other compatible devices with a follow app, an emergency can be detected, alerted, treated, and even prevented. Lives can be saved. Thank you for your time, effort, and consideration. Treina Owen and the rest of my family (to include 3 T1Ds and 1 T2D that uses remote follow technology)

In support of House Bill 1301 My name is Treina Owen and this my son Karson Owen, 14. We both live with type one diabetes. I was diagnosed 30 years ago and blind due to diabetic retinopathy and Karson, diagnosed 6 years ago next month. Our daughter, Kamryn is 24 and was diagnosed at 5 years old. I support this bill because there have been many changes within the past 27 years and the code should reflect those changes. Imagine Kamryn going to the nurse’s office to receive an insulin injection through a syringe as well as a finger prick to test her blood sugar for every snack and meal she ate at school and the nurse calling each time to discuss. Imagine a her not being able to go on a school field trip unless the school nurse or parent can attend. Now, the real emergency is when the school nurse is out of school for the day with no back up to the back up. Imagine Kamryn getting picked on saying she’s the nurse’s pet because she leaves class early for lunch and gets to cut the line to get her lunch first, all while missing instruction time. That is what we experienced starting 2006. Fast forward to 2020 when Karson was diagnosed. There was no one-week stay in the hospital like his sister, just a next day Dr visit. There was a short time on injections with an insulin pen while we waited for his insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor. These two life-saving technological advances, along with his cellphone and smart watch all work together via Bluetooth. Karson’s insulin pump can deliver basal units all day long and he can either manually bolus on his insulin pump or his cellphone insulin pump app. This means there is no need for insulin administration from a syringe through a school nurse. Thankfully, with all of this technology, anyone with the follow capabilities on remote devices can monitor, on multiple devices, multiple users simultaneously. If you could see my phone I’m personally following 4, to include myself on my phone, watch, and iPad. We are able to text our son about important blood sugar events throughout the day. These items are his life line. This same remote technology can be beneficial in our schools and on our school buses, where they are the closest to our children during school hours. Karson attends a speciality center and rides a regular school bus then a hub bus, to and from school which is a 1 1/2 ride. That is a long ride and he sometimes falls asleep. His bus drivers could monitor and be alerted of blood sugar emergencies to and from school in the event he isn’t just asleep. With remote devices in the school system and on school buses like iPads, cell phones, and other compatible devices with a follow app, an emergency can be detected, alerted, treated, and even prevented. Lives can be saved. Thank you for your time, effort, and consideration. Treina Owen and the rest of my family (to include 3 T1Ds and 1 T2D that uses remote follow technology)

Please support this bill! It will help my sister and many others like her to feel and be more safe in their schools

It is crucial that children with Type 1 Diabetes be provided the kind of support in public schools that HB 1301 requires.

I am a retired school health nurse. In my practice over more than 20 years I was closely involved in the planning, implementing, and training of school staff and school health aids for care of students with complex health care needs, including a number of students with T1D. I am also the great aunt of a current Fairfax county student with T1D. It is essential for allignment with current technology and safe diabetes management for HB1301 to pass- it is way past time to update the language in the Code of Virginia regarding diabetes care and assure the safety of our students. Please dont miss this chance to get it right and support students' success in school and in life.

I am writing to urgently request your support for HB1301. This bill is critical for the safety and equity of students with Type 1 Diabetes in Virginia schools. Our Deep Personal Connection ~ Type 1 Diabetes impacts my entire family: I have Type 1, and my daughter was diagnosed at just 3 years old. ~ Additionally, my sister and my niece also live with Type 1 Diabetes. ~ We understand intimately that this condition requires constant vigilance and immediate action. The Rising Need ~ The incidence rate of Type 1 Diabetes has been on the rise in recent years, meaning more Virginia students than ever require support during the school day. ~ Schools must be equipped to handle this growing population safely and effectively. The Medical Necessity ~ My daughter, like many students, relies on an insulin pump. When a pump fails, blood sugar starts to spike to dangerous levels almost immediately. ~ A failed pump must be replaced instantly to maintain safety. Relying on backup methods (like injections without precise calculation tools) is extremely risky and disruptive. ~ We are fortunate that my wife and I work from home and we live only 1/2 mile from school, allowing us to intervene. However, this is not possible for most working families. The Solution HB1301 Provides ~ Current regulations often prevent willing staff from assisting with device replacements, forcing parents to leave work or risk their child's health. This creates a barrier to the "Free Appropriate Public Education" guaranteed by IDEA and Section 504. ~ HB1301 simply makes it possible for school staff who are willing to change devices to do so. ~ My daughter is now in 6th grade, and there are staff members ready and eager to help be part of her care team. This bill would finally allow them to support her fully. Please vote yes on HB1301 to ensure our schools can legally support the staff willing to keep our children safe.

Please support HB1301

Type 1 Diabetes is a long term chronic illness and caring for my Type 1 son is an all consuming job. Updating and provided the school with better technology and management abilities is critical to all children with Type 1 diabetes. Without the ability for the school nurse to monitor my son's blood sugars via the Dexcom app, I was calling the school on average 1 time a day. Some days, I talked to the nurse 4 to 5 times a day. My son is in 6th grade now and was diagnosed at age 4 (before starting school). Many times the teacher were unaware of his low blood sugars. I remember calling the school when he as in kindergarten to check on him because his blood sugar were in the low 50s and the nurse did NOT know he was low, nor was she near him to help him and the teachers were also unaware because they did not hear his alarms going off. The amazing nurse literally ran to the playground with the medical supplies to find him and help him. That was the day that I knew I couldn't trust the traditional system the schools had in place (listening for his alarms to go off and then helping him). So much as IMPROVED in diabetes technology to help all diabetics manage their chronic illness and school should be using all technology out there. Our nurse has been allowed to follow my son's blood sugar reading for the last year and half and it has been amazing! The nurse has been able to see patterns in his blood sugars and help him treat his lows and highs before they become a problem and he can stay in class and learn. I now trust in the school systems ability to properly care for my son.

Please provide assistance to our children with type 1 diabetes. I have a 6 year old with type one diabetes and the need for assistance is critical. Fear schools can not properly manage my daughter’s diabetes when I am not with her is a real concern. Thank you for your time.

We need this on behalf of ALL TD1 parents and children.

I urge you to support HB 1301. This bill will update outdated language and include definitions to better suit the changing technology that most T1Ds use, allowing them to stay safer in schools. The bill simply allows willing and trained school staff to insert insulin pumps, which is as simple as attaching a sticker and following along with simple guide on a phone app. This is a much safer alternative to having to fall back on manual injections of insulin, which has no safeguards in place for over dosing amounts that could be lethal. I appreciate your consideration and support of this bill, which will allow Type 1 Diabetics a safer day at school, to allow less distractions and provide them a chance to focus on learning instead of worrying about their health.

As a father of a Type 1 diabetic in middle school, I greatly support HB1301 and the positive impact it will make on the many lives of children who struggle with this disease every day, in and out of school. We have seen firsthand how important dedicated care and support of type 1 children help them to grow and learn as every other child in school.

This bill is integral to our communities all over the Commonwealth. Please pass this bill into law and protect our children!

I’m writing about my son, Logan. He has Type 1 diabetes and uses a pump and CGM. Every day at school, his safety depends on staff paying attention—but they aren’t. They test him only when he’s already high, dismiss the results, and sometimes refuse to help him learn if his blood sugar is off. At one point, they even suggested homeschooling instead of providing proper support. Logan eats, plays, and learns like any other kid, but managing his diabetes is not optional. He needs: • Immediate access to his pump, CGM, snacks, and supplies. • Trained staff who can assist, including giving glucagon in emergencies. • A care plan that is actually followed, not just filed away. Right now, the law on paper—like HB624 and HB1301—says schools must protect kids with diabetes. The reality? Logan is left unsafe, unsupported, and struggling just to stay alive and learn. That gap between law and practice is dangerous. I’m asking you to make sure legislation doesn’t just exist on paper. Schools must be held accountable to follow diabetes care plans so that students like Logan can be safe, independent when able, and fully included in school life. Logan is capable, smart, and wants to learn. He shouldn’t have to fight for basic safety every single day. Your support can make sure no kid has to face this at school.

I am the parent of a 10 year old boy in 5th grade and I support this bill so that my son and other children with T1D are safe and healthy and school staff are trained in diabetic care. Without these trainings, our children are at risk of complications from high or low numbers which can be life-threatening.

Please support T1D care in schools.

I am a nurse and a Type 1 Diabetic mom of a 5 year old kindergartener. This bill is extremely important to ensure the safest options are used to manage Type 1 Diabetic children everyday at school. Insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors are life saving devices and they need to be replaced ASAP when they malfunction or fall off at school. If an insulin pump cannot be replaced, a child must then depend on manual injections that require an aide or RN to calculate a dose that must be 100% correct 100% of the time. This creates room for human error with this potentially lethal medication our children need to survive. Insulin pumps are by far the safest option because of the safeguards they have in place when it calculates and dispenses insulin into our children based on metrics discussed with their medical providers. Not replacing the continuous glucose monitors ASAP also creates room for medical emergencies and possible fatalities when signs and symptoms of low or high glucose are missed, especially in our most vulnerable children who are young and are dependent on adults for their care. My son cannot identify signs or symptoms yet of low or high glucose, and he doesn't show noticeable outward signs either. The continuous glucose monitor keeps him alive by relaying his glucose numbers in real time to the adults who take care of him. Finger pricking a few times a day at school if a continuous glucose monitor cannot be replaced, puts his life in jeopardy. Both devices are replaced every single day by caretakers at home, who are not licensed nurses or providers. Mature grade school children can replace them on their own. As a RN myself, alongside the fact that my son goes to a school that doesn't have a RN on site most days, I believe restricting these simple tasks to only RN's in school is not sensible and puts our children in danger if they cannot get these devices replaced ASAP. I am expressing my strong support for HB1301, which will strengthen protections for students with Type 1 Diabetes in Virginia schools. It is imperative that code written 27 years ago is updated to reflect the diabetes management students rely on today, restoring the intent of Virginia’s 1999 Safe at School Act, which was enacted to increase access to medically necessary diabetes care when a nurse is not present. This bill ensures clear guidance, safety, and collaboration so that students receive the care they need to stay safe and thrive in the classroom. On behalf of Virginia students with Type 1 Diabetes, thank you for voicing your support Sincerely, Lauren Hatcher 6113 Oakengate Way, Centreville, VA 20120, USA

Please support Hb1031 to support T1D care in schools. Thank you!

Our children deserve to be monitored at school in the event of an urgent low. Is exhausting sitting around while trying to work full-time monitor numbers all day and calling the school every time she is high our way.. medical accommodations in the school system is outdated and needs to be updated to reflect technology and the ability to help our children get taken out the classroom less for nurse visits and for parents to be confident that the school system is looking out for the best interest of these children.

Diabetes management through CGM while at school is crucial. A nurse or teacher should know when a student is going low in order to take proper action.

I am in support of HP 1301 I am in favor of changing diabetes care for children in our school I believe it important to keep up and change as technology improves the lives and health for the children Don’t get left behind while others are updating care at home and in other school systems Thank you D Thorpe

I am in support of HP 1301 I am in favor of changing diabetes care for children in our school I believe it important to keep up and change as technology improves the lives and health for the children Don’t get left behind while others are updating care at home and in other school systems Thank you D Thorpe

Please consider passing this bill. Children with diabetes need support in their school, available at any time during the day. There needs to be a plan in place to ensure any insulin needs are not being misconstrued as behavior issues. To also ensure that the medical condition is dealt with whenever necessary to ensure the child has a safe place in the school. Safety is the number one concern in schools end it is a responsibility of the teachers in administration in that school to keep each and every child safe, including children with diabetes

An update to accommodations for children with diabetes is vital! As medical treatments, medical devices and care have evolved, the law needs to reflect those changes and allow for proper accommodations!

Schools need a system that protects and empowers nurses to use modern diabetes tools and provide consistent support to children who depend on them. The technology is there. The data is there. What is missing are the clear rights, protections, and expectations that allow school nurses to safely monitor glucose data and intervene when a child needs help. HB1301 is a win-win for everyone.

I am writing to express my strong support for HB1301, introduced by Senator Jeremy McPike, which strengthens legal protections for students with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) in Virginia schools. T1D is a chronic, life-threatening autoimmune disease with no cure that requires 24/7 glucose monitoring and insulin delivery to prevent dangerous blood sugar swings that can cause seizures, coma, or death. Schools are federally obligated to provide this care in the absence of the parent, ensuring students with T1D are safe and have equal access to education. HB1301 updates and consolidates already existing Virginia Codes into one designated section. It ensures that diabetes care decisions remain with medical professionals and parents—not schools. Schools may determine “how” to implement a student’s medical plan, but not “if” they will implement it. This bill prevents schools from ignoring legal obligations and ensures equal access to care by updating outdated policies that have caused confusion and inconsistency in diabetes management for decades. I urge you to support HB1301 to protect students with T1D, create clear guidelines for parents, providers, and schools to ensure all children receive the care they need to stay safe, in class, and learning in ALL Virginia schools. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Language directing school nurses to access prescribers directly for clarification and questions per the Nurse Practice Act.

It is imperative that this bill be passed for the health and welfare of students with T1D. Children spend much of their lives in school and as such the importance of the diabetes care that they receive while in school should be stressed. Two of my own children with T1D had different experiences due to the caregivers at the elementary school they attended. My first child’s experience was positive as there was an RN at the school everyday and she had taken care of many children with T1D. My second child’s experience was much different. The nurse retired and a”clinic attendant” with no health care experience was hired. I spent many hours in person and on the phone with her until she was comfortable with caring for my child.

I am a support of HB1301 It is of urgency that we need to make a change in how we support children with type one diabetes in our schools. We need to modernize the care at school. Let’s not get left behind. Our main goal is to help children have the best education possible with the support of the school system to have diabetes support so they can maintain their health as they are away from their home for the majority of the day. Cheryl Thomas

Please support HB 1301. My 12 year old son in Fairfax County carries and uses diabetes supplies, self-checks glucose levels, and uses smart devices for care management on school property and buses. His right to this self care should be passed into law. These are basic tools he uses to manage his glucose levels and stay healthy.

My grandson Jack was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of one. I vividly remember the first day he went to school and the anxiety his parents felt leaving him in the hands of the school to administer his insulin. Those first months were not easy, and it became apparent to my son and daughter-in-law that the management of Type 1 diabetes care for children in school was a little outdated. Knowing the stress that diabetes places on a family, I would urge you to pass Bill 1301 so that parents can feel more confident in the knowledge that their child’s diabetic needs will be adequately provided for with updated management care and guidelines. Thank you.

We are a little over three years into having an elementary-aged child with type one diabetes. For the well-being and safety of my son, and other children, who have no choice in having type one diabetes, please consider updating HB1301-Thomas to make diabetes management in public schools more accessible.

I am writing in support of this bill. Please vote yes on updating standards for diabetes care training in our public schools. Our child with type 1 diabetes was nearly killed twice due to lack of training and education. Insulin is so lethal that it requires two nurses to administer in a hospital environment. Modern training would enable self-care with improved safety as is common with automated insulin delivery (AID) systems on the market today. These systems have proven to improve health and lower blood glucose without increasing the risk of severe low or highs. The training is essential to enabling an equal opportunity for children with type 1 diabetes to attend our quality public schools and not face the impossible challenge between ensuring your child will be alive at the end of the day vs. enduring the financial devastation of private school tuition. Please vote yes to protect our children!!

I strongly support the improvements this bill supports if passed.

I am a parent of a child with type one diabetes. I support this bill because as a parent and former elementary school teacher, I have seen the challenges kids face when schools deny accommodations deemed necessary by their endocrinologist. One night I was awakened by a severe low blood sugar alert from my son's glucose monitor to my phone. I ran to his room and found him on the floor having a seizure. My husband called 911 while I frantically searched through my son's go-bag for his emergency glucagon. Thanks to his glucose monitor and phone app, we were able to respond quickly, and he recovered. You see, his monitor and his phone are life-saving devices. Having them with him at school is essential. They have alerted me more times than I can count. These kids have the same right to a quality education as anyone else, and they deserve the appropriate medical accommodations so they can be safe and successful in school.

As somebody who this bill may have allowed to stay enrolled in public education as a child, I am asking you to please vote yes on updating standards for diabetes care training in our public schools.

As a parent of a child with Type 1 Disbetes for the past 6 years, I do anything I can do to support initiatives to help those with this disease. I wholeheartedly support this bill and would love to see it passed!

As the parent of a middle school aged Type 1 Diabetic, I urge you to support HB 1301. This bill will update outdated language and include definitions to better suit the changing technology that most T1Ds use, allowing them to stay safer in schools. The bill simply allows willing and trained school staff to insert insulin pumps, which is as simple as attaching a sticker and following along with simple guide on a phone app. This is a much safer alternative to having to fall back on manual injections of insulin, which has no safeguards in place for over dosing amounts that could be lethal. When the school does not allow trained and willing staff to replace pumps, it requires parents to leave work to go to the school to apply something that takes less than 5 minutes. While my job can be flexible, often it is not and this is a major disruption when the school is 45 minutes away from my job. Imagine when a parent has less flexibility, and the impossible choice between losing a job by leaving to take care of their child or staying and risking their health. When a pump wearing type 1 diabetic’s pump fails, they have no baseline insulin on board which means they can reach critically high blood sugar levels in a few hours. I appreciate your consideration and support of this bill, which will allow Type 1 Diabetics a safer day at school, to allow less distractions and provide them a chance to focus on learning instead of worrying about their health.

My 10 yr old daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes last year in April 2025. Laws and guidelines in schools for Type 1 diabetes desperately need updating since they were last updated almost 30 years ago. Thank you for considering this for the safety of my daughter and all Type 1 students in Virginia.

I am the parent of a Virginia public school student with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). Please support this bill that will update the law to meet current standards of care so that Virginia children with T1D can remain safe and healthy in school. Technology continues to advance in diabetes care and our laws must keep up with the times so that these technologies can remain in place. Thank you for your consideration.

As the parent of a middle school aged Type 1 Diabetic, I urge you to support HB 1301. This bill will update outdated language and include definitions to better suit the changing technology that most T1Ds use, allowing them to stay safer in schools. The bill simply allows willing and trained school staff to insert insulin pumps, which is as simple as attaching a sticker and following along with simple guide on a phone app. This is a much safer alternative to having to fall back on manual injections of insulin, which has no safeguards in place for over dosing amounts that could be lethal. I appreciate your consideration and support of this bill, which will allow Type 1 Diabetics a safer day at school, to allow less distractions and provide them a chance to focus on learning instead of worrying about their health.

Hello, I still stand strongly with the bill- Students with Diabetes in Virginia Public Schools! It is so important to our children facing this disease. Having the school system be a part of it is even better with more eyes on their diabetes journey. I hope the Senate will unanimously will pass this piece of legislation for the sake of our children. Thank you for your time! Mary Benek

Thank you for your support of HB1301. Our 10-year-old granddaughter was diagnosed with type one diabetes last year and it has been a challenge for her and all of our family to adapt. We are thankful that her elementary school nurse is also type one diabetic and knows how to support her at school. The bill will ensure that our granddaughter will continue to have support at school for her diabetes while she continues her education in middle school next year and then later in high school.

This needed for all students to receive free and appointed public education.

I support HB1301 because we need to support all children and their various needs in public schools.

I fully support access to life saving medicine for ALL children and I encourage you to FUND and support speaking on behalf of ALL children.

Please vote and support of HB 1301 to keep our children who have insulin independent diabetes safe at school. At this point in time, better licensure and training is required in order to administer diabetes care to my animals than it is to my child. As a result, my child was given a life-threatening overdose of insulin during her second grade year at a public school. As a result, we had to move her to a private school for her safety. This bankrupted us. Please vote yes.

Please, do the Type 1 Families justice in passing this Bill. Our children rely on us, whom rely on you, to be our voices in Legislation.