9–8–8 Connect Act

The 9-8-8 Connect Act establishes a new federal funding program to provide follow-up services to individuals who have contacted suicide prevention and crisis intervention hotlines, directly affecting crisis centers that are part of the national network. The bill authorizes $30 million for fiscal year 2027 to help these centers offer check-ins, outreach, family collaboration, and care referrals to people who have recently interacted with crisis services. Additionally, the legislation requires the Federal Communications Commission to create rules ensuring all mobile phone calls and text messages to the 9-8-8 hotline are transmitted, including those from phones without service plans. The act also updates telecommunications laws to allow 9-8-8 to be dialed directly from multi-line telephone systems alongside emergency numbers like 9-1-1.