The 9-8-8 Crisis Response Act expands federal funding for mental health crisis response and broadens Medicaid coverage to include regional lifeline call centers and crisis stabilization facilities. The bill increases the annual budget for the Mental Health Crisis Response Partnership Pilot Program from $10 million to $100 million for fiscal years 2027 through 2029. It also allows states to use Medicaid funds to pay for these new services, with the federal government covering 85 percent of the costs. To qualify, crisis stabilization facilities must provide 24-hour care without rejecting patients based on their ability to pay or other factors, and they must maintain an average patient stay of less than 150 hours.
The Telecommunications GAP Act requires the Comptroller General of the United States to submit a report to Congress within 180 days of enactment. This report must evaluate the overall effectiveness of the Federal Communications Commission's Mandatory Disaster Response Initiative, with specific attention to its performance during the January 2025 California wildfires. The legislation directs an analysis of any failures in network coverage, roaming, or provider coordination under these emergency rules. Additionally, the report is required to include recommendations for improving the initiative, which applies to facilities-based mobile wireless providers.
The 9-8-8 Implementation Act of 2026 expands federal funding and mandates insurance coverage for behavioral health crisis services, directly affecting individuals experiencing mental health or substance use emergencies as well as the providers who serve them. The bill authorizes grants to upgrade local lifeline call centers, build new crisis stabilization facilities, and train a larger workforce of behavioral health professionals. It requires Medicare, Medicaid, private group health plans, TRICARE, and other federal insurance programs to cover crisis response services with financial terms no more restrictive than standard medical care. Additionally, the legislation establishes a federal panel to develop training protocols for 9-1-1 dispatchers to better connect callers to appropriate crisis care rather than law enforcement responses.
The Supporting 9-8-8 Crisis Stabilization Act amends Medicaid rules to allow federal funding for specific community-based mental health facilities that were previously excluded from coverage. It defines two new types of eligible sites: crisis receiving and stabilization facilities, which must operate 24/7 with an average stay under 150 hours, and mental health and substance use urgent care centers where individuals can walk in without an appointment. These facilities are required to accept referrals from law enforcement and emergency personnel while prohibiting service denials based on factors like ability to pay or criminal justice history. The bill also directs the Department of Health and Human Services to issue implementation guidance within 180 days and submit a report to Congress one year later analyzing how these changes affect hospital admissions, incarceration rates, and overall crisis response utilization.
The Kids Safety on Set Act of 2026 mandates that adults with supervisory roles or frequent private contact with minors on entertainment productions must pass a criminal background check within 90 days before starting work. This check, which costs no more than $100 and is paid by the production company, specifically screens for offenses involving sex, violence, stalking, or minors. If a production employs someone who fails to meet this requirement, the Attorney General can seek a civil penalty of up to twice the cost of that person's project involvement. Additionally, the law requires an immediate halt to all production activities involving the non-compliant employee until they are terminated and stripped of any ownership interest greater than 2 percent in the project.
The 9-8-8 Community Infrastructure Act authorizes $1 billion in grants for capital projects at health centers and crisis response facilities. Eligible recipients include federally funded health centers, tribal organizations, and specialized non-hospital facilities that provide 24/7 mental health and substance use crisis services. Funds may be used for construction, renovation, expansion, or loan repayment to improve these infrastructure sites. The bill specifically defines eligible crisis facilities as those offering stabilization beds, sliding-scale payment options, and no-wrong-door admission without rejecting patients based on ability to pay or other factors.
The 9-8-8 and 9-1-1 Integration Act directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a multidisciplinary panel that will develop recommendations for training and protocols for emergency dispatchers. The primary goal is to ensure that individuals experiencing behavioral health or substance use crises are connected to appropriate care services rather than being met solely by law enforcement. The panel must consider integrating the 9-8-8 crisis line with the 9-1-1 system, utilizing standardized assessment tools to evaluate caller needs, and implementing training on cultural competency and implicit bias. Additionally, the legislation requires the creation of data collection standards to track response outcomes and disparities while protecting caller privacy, with reports submitted to Congress upon the release of recommendations and every five years thereafter.
The Behavioral Health Crisis Services Expansion Act of 2026 mandates that Medicare, Medicaid, and most private health insurance plans cover mental health and substance use crisis response services for individuals experiencing acute episodes. These covered services include care provided by mobile crisis teams, urgent care facilities, and stabilization centers that offer short-term observation without rejecting patients based on their ability to pay or other factors. The legislation also requires ambulance providers to transport individuals in crisis to appropriate facilities and extends coverage requirements to TRICARE, veterans' benefits, federal employee health plans, and the Children's Health Insurance Program. These new coverage mandates generally take effect three years after the bill is enacted, with specific provisions ensuring that financial restrictions on these services are no more severe than those applied to standard medical care.
This House resolution supports the goals of National Clinical Nurse Specialist Week, which is observed during the first week of September. It formally recognizes the contributions of these advanced practice nurses to patient care, quality improvement, and workforce development across various healthcare settings. The bill encourages the public to observe the week through appropriate programs and activities. Additionally, it reaffirms the House's commitment to ensuring that Clinical Nurse Specialists are accurately classified in federal labor statistics and supported in health workforce planning.
The Equal Pay for Equal Work Act establishes a new National Equal Pay Enforcement Task Force composed of representatives from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor, and the Office of Personnel Management. The task force is charged with coordinating these agencies to close gaps in enforcement and improve public education regarding equal pay laws. Its specific duties include investigating challenges related to pay inequity, advancing recommendations to address those issues, and creating action plans to implement the proposed solutions.
This bill prohibits the Department of Education from transferring specific program functions to other federal agencies, focusing on offices that manage special education, postsecondary education, Indian education, and elementary and secondary education. It blocks new interagency agreements for these areas but allows existing contracts in place as of February 1, 2025, to continue or be renewed with similar terms. The legislation also requires the Secretary of Education to submit quarterly cost reports to Congress detailing the financial impact of any new interagency arrangements made after that date. Finally, it restricts the use of certain administrative travel funds for the Secretary until these required cost analyses are provided.
This bill would prohibit any state or local government designated as a "sanctuary jurisdiction" from receiving grant funds distributed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A jurisdiction is defined as a sanctuary if it has laws, policies, or practices that restrict officials from sharing information about an individual's immigration status or from complying with federal requests to detain or notify about the release of individuals. The funding restriction would apply to grants distributed 180 days after the bill's enactment. To determine which jurisdictions qualify for this ineligibility, the HUD Secretary is required to consult with the Secretary of Homeland Security.
