Healthcare Bills Across the Country

introduced · Hawaii · Senate Jul 16, 2026

GM 1370: Informing the Legislature that on July 16, 2026, the following bill became law without the Governor's signature: SB847 SD2 HD2 CD1 (Act 266).

This bill establishes a three-year pilot program allowing qualified clinical psychologists to prescribe specific psychotropic medications under the supervision of a physician or psychiatrist. The program is limited to treating patients between the ages of 18 and 65 at federally qualified health centers located in Kauai and Hawaii counties. The legislation aims to improve access to mental health care in these areas by expanding the scope of practice for psychologists who have completed specialized training in psychopharmacology.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing Mental Health

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 23, 2026

S 5109: Training Rural Law Enforcement Officers Act of 2026

This bill allows rural law enforcement agencies with fewer than 50 officers to receive free training grants from the Department of Justice. Instead of applying directly, these agencies can pool their funding with neighboring departments to hire accredited nonprofit organizations to deliver the training. The program specifically covers topics such as de-escalation, officer wellness, leadership, and handling situations involving mental health crises or domestic violence. By simplifying the application process and removing reporting burdens, the legislation aims to help smaller agencies access resources they previously lacked.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Law Enforcement Mental Health Tags Rural Communities

in committee · United States · House Jul 27, 2026

HR 9948: Addictive Design Act of 2026

The Addictive Design Act of 2026 aims to protect youth under 18 from potential mental health risks associated with artificial intelligence chatbots by banning specific features designed to create emotional attachments. To support this goal, the bill establishes a government task force to study these impacts and provides funding for research and educational outreach to parents and teachers. The legislation also mandates that companies offering AI chatbots to minors must use age verification technology and delete user data within 24 hours. Companies that fail to comply with the ban on addictive design features or data privacy requirements face civil penalties of up to $10 million or $5,000 per violation, respectively.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✗ Technology

Sub-Topics Mental Health Artificial Intelligence Online Safety Social Media

in committee · United States · House Jul 22, 2026

HR 9847: Improving CARE for Youth Act

The Improving CARE for Youth Act modifies Medicaid rules to allow payment for mental health, substance use disorder, and primary care services provided on the same day within the same clinic or health center. This change directly affects youth and adults receiving care by removing previous restrictions that often prevented billing for these combined visits. The bill defines "same-day qualifying services" to include scenarios where a patient sees both a primary care provider and a mental health specialist in one visit, or vice versa, at facilities like Federally qualified health centers or physician offices. By updating the Social Security Act, the legislation aims to streamline access to coordinated care without imposing new limitations on how these services are billed.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health Primary Care

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 27, 2026

S 5137: CARE for Mental Health Professionals Act

The CARE for Mental Health Professionals Act creates a federal grant program to support states that have joined interstate agreements allowing mental health counselors to practice across state lines. These grants will help fund the organizations that manage these agreements and provide financial incentives for counselors to work in areas with a shortage of mental health professionals. The legislation authorizes up to $4 million per year from 2027 to 2030 to fund these projects and defines eligible recipients as state licensing boards or interstate compact commissions.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Mental Health

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jul 14, 2026

HB 2701: An Act amending Title 20 (Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in health care, further providing for definitions, for legislative findings and intent, for compliance, for conflicting advance health care directives, for life insurance, for health care instruments optional, for pregnancy and for liability, providing for prohibited conduct and damages, for judicial relief, for implementation, savings provision and transitional provision and for uniformity of application and construction, repealing provisions relating to living wills, providing for health care decisions and advance health care directives, repealing provisions relating to short title of subchapter, providing for advance mental health care directive, further providing for execution, for requirements and options, for when health care power of attorney operative, for appointment of health care agents, for authority of health care agent, for countermand, for amendment, for revocation, for relation of health care agent to court-appointed guardian and other agents, for decisions by health care representative, for duties of attending physician and health care provider, for effect on other State law, for validity and for form, providing for effect of copy and certified physical copy, repealing provisions relating to example and providing for example; repealing provisions relating to mental health care; and making an editorial change.

This bill updates Pennsylvania's laws regarding advance health care directives to replace the outdated living will system with a more flexible framework that combines written instructions with the appointment of a trusted agent. It directly affects individuals who wish to plan for their future medical care, as well as healthcare providers who must follow these new rules. Key provisions include defining new terms like "cohabitant" and "end-stage medical condition," clarifying how to handle conflicting directives, and establishing specific guidelines for when a health care agent can make decisions. The legislation also addresses mental health care planning, outlines the duties of physicians, and sets standards for the validity and form of these legal documents.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Mental Health

in committee · Michigan · Senate Jul 15, 2026

SB 1116: Mental health: recipient rights; rights violations investigations; modify. Amends sec. 778 of 1974 PA 258 (MCL 330.1778).

This bill updates Michigan's mental health code to establish stricter timelines and reporting requirements for investigating complaints about rights violations in mental health facilities. It mandates that investigations into abuse, neglect, serious injury, or death must begin within 24 hours and be completed within 90 days, while requiring the office to send written status updates every 30 days to all parties involved. The legislation also clarifies that investigations will use a "preponderance of the evidence" standard to determine if rights were violated and allows for reopening cases if new evidence emerges. These changes directly affect the state mental health office, mental health agencies, and individuals filing complaints on behalf of recipients.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Mental Health

in committee · Michigan · Senate Jul 15, 2026

SB 1118: Mental health: recipient rights; retention of monitoring reports; require. Amends secs. 700 & 754 of 1974 PA 258 (MCL 330.1700 & 330.1754).

SB 1118 amends Michigan's mental health code to clarify definitions of criminal abuse and establish a dedicated state office of recipient rights. This new office will operate independently within the department to protect the rights of individuals receiving mental health services, ensuring they have access to programs, staff, and evidence needed for thorough investigations. The bill also mandates that both the office and all service providers receive annual training on recipient rights protection and requires measures to prevent retaliation against those who report violations. By strengthening oversight and accountability, the legislation aims to create a safer environment for mental health recipients while maintaining impartial monitoring of care facilities.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Mental Health

in committee · Michigan · Senate Jul 15, 2026

SB 1119: Mental health: community mental health; retention of certain review information; require. Amends sec. 232a of 1974 PA 258 (MCL 330.1232a) & adds sec. 137b.

SB 1119 requires the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to conduct annual reviews and on-site inspections every three years of psychiatric hospitals and community mental health programs to ensure they follow recipient rights standards. These reviews will involve checking complaint logs, interviewing staff, and assessing policies, with detailed reports made public on the department's website and shared with legislative committees. The bill also mandates that programs provide specific documentation before inspections and allows the department to deny certification if standards are not met. By adding new sections to the state's mental health code, the legislation aims to increase transparency and accountability in how these facilities protect the rights of their patients.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Mental Health

in committee · Michigan · Senate Jul 15, 2026

SB 1120: Mental health: recipient rights; members employed by the community mental health service; prohibit from serving on the recipient rights advisory committee. Amends sec. 757 of 1974 PA 258 (MCL 330.1757).

This bill prohibits individuals who are current or former board members of community mental health services programs or regional entities, along with their family members, from serving on recipient rights advisory committees. The law aims to reduce conflicts of interest by ensuring that these committees, which advise on recipient rights and handle appeals, are composed of people without prior administrative ties to the organizations they oversee. While the bill does not change the committee's duties or meeting requirements, it clarifies eligibility rules to maintain impartiality in the mental health system.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Healthcare across the country

Bills introduced per week

Bills supporting healthcare

GM 1370: Informing the Legislature that on July 16, 2026, the following bill became law without the Governor's signature: SB847 SD2 HD2 CD1 (Act 266).

S 5109: Training Rural Law Enforcement Officers Act of 2026

HR 9948: Addictive Design Act of 2026

HR 9847: Improving CARE for Youth Act

S 5137: CARE for Mental Health Professionals Act

SB 1116: Mental health: recipient rights; rights violations investigations; modify. Amends sec. 778 of 1974 PA 258 (MCL 330.1778).

SB 1118: Mental health: recipient rights; retention of monitoring reports; require. Amends secs. 700 & 754 of 1974 PA 258 (MCL 330.1700 & 330.1754).

SB 1119: Mental health: community mental health; retention of certain review information; require. Amends sec. 232a of 1974 PA 258 (MCL 330.1232a) & adds sec. 137b.

SB 1120: Mental health: recipient rights; members employed by the community mental health service; prohibit from serving on the recipient rights advisory committee. Amends sec. 757 of 1974 PA 258 (MCL 330.1757).