HB38 will ensure that teachers are better prepared to address the mental health needs, specifically of their most vulnerable students. As a former special education teacher, I saw students with many of the risk factors outlined struggle to access the mental health support they needed. This is especially critical in Virginia, which ranked 32nd in youth mental health according to 2025 Mental Health America data.
While we must continue to invest in additional staff with extensive mental health training, teachers remain on the front lines of this crisis and need up to date interventions supported by data, such as those outlined by the American Psychological Association.
Overall, this bill is one step in the right direction to equip school staff to better support all students. -Liz Nigro, Voices for Virginia's Children
HB96 is an essential investment, particularly at this moment with cuts to SNAP, rising grocery bills, and the discontinuation of the main survey tracking food security over time. Specifically, by providing school breakfast to all students, families in Virginia could save an average of $315 each school year. This equals roughly two months of diapers and one month’s electric bill for a single-family home.
According to 2025 No Kid Hungry polling data, 97% of Virginians want to end child hunger, and we believe HB38 is a great first step. -Liz Nigro, Voices for Virginia's Children
We support HB210, especially at this moment. According to No Kid Hungry’s 2025 poll, 84% of Virginians say food costs are rising faster than their income and 52% of families with K-12 students report going into debt due to the price of groceries. School meals could provide food relief but many families find themselves in school meal debt, particularly in the 36 districts with no or limited participation in the community eligibility provision (CEP), which provides free school breakfast and lunch to all without household applications.
This bill serves to protect some of the Commonwealth's most vulnerable families and that is why we urge you to support this bill. -Liz Nigro, Voices for Virginia's Children
HB38 will ensure that teachers are better prepared to address the mental health needs, specifically of their most vulnerable students. As a former special education teacher, I saw students with many of the risk factors outlined struggle to access the mental health support they needed. This is especially critical in Virginia, which ranked 32nd in youth mental health according to 2025 Mental Health America data. While we must continue to invest in additional staff with extensive mental health training, teachers remain on the front lines of this crisis and need up to date interventions supported by data, such as those outlined by the American Psychological Association. Overall, this bill is one step in the right direction to equip school staff to better support all students. -Liz Nigro, Voices for Virginia's Children HB96 is an essential investment, particularly at this moment with cuts to SNAP, rising grocery bills, and the discontinuation of the main survey tracking food security over time. Specifically, by providing school breakfast to all students, families in Virginia could save an average of $315 each school year. This equals roughly two months of diapers and one month’s electric bill for a single-family home. According to 2025 No Kid Hungry polling data, 97% of Virginians want to end child hunger, and we believe HB38 is a great first step. -Liz Nigro, Voices for Virginia's Children We support HB210, especially at this moment. According to No Kid Hungry’s 2025 poll, 84% of Virginians say food costs are rising faster than their income and 52% of families with K-12 students report going into debt due to the price of groceries. School meals could provide food relief but many families find themselves in school meal debt, particularly in the 36 districts with no or limited participation in the community eligibility provision (CEP), which provides free school breakfast and lunch to all without household applications. This bill serves to protect some of the Commonwealth's most vulnerable families and that is why we urge you to support this bill. -Liz Nigro, Voices for Virginia's Children