Federal RuleAug 21
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DOL Rewrites Disability Rules for 'Merit-Based Opportunity' Push
RuleLabor DepartmentFederal Contract Compliance Programs OfficeSignificant Wallet
119-hr-5725119th CongressWALLET
Mental Health Crisis Response Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
Introduced
Summary
Creates a federal grant program to expand health-centered crisis response alternatives. The program funds local efforts to route behavioral health 911 calls to trained health responders and to create handoffs that avoid making callers hang up and dial 988.
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- Families and people in crisis: May receive a health-first response through 911 rerouting to 988 or by having mental health professionals embedded in dispatch.
- 911 dispatch centers and emergency services: Can use competitive grants to embed mental health staff, build alternative 911 routing to 988, and set up streamlined handoffs with emergency responders.
- Law enforcement and public safety: Awarded jurisdictions must report on use of force and diversion rates, and the law clarifies it does not require removing police or changing state rules on involuntary psychiatric holds.
- State, Tribal, and local governments: Jurisdictions that manage emergency services are eligible to apply and must submit annual reports on response time and other data requested by the Attorney General or the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use.
*Authorizes $25.0 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to fund the grant program, increasing federal outlays if appropriated.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Grants for health-first 911 response
If enacted, the bill would create a competitive grant program within 270 days. The Attorney General and the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use would run it. States, Tribes, and local governments that manage emergency services could apply. Grants could pay to put mental health professionals in 911 dispatch and call triage. Grants could build ways to route some 911 calls to 988 or other crisis hotlines. Grants could fund warm handoffs so callers are transferred without hanging up. Recipients would have to report each year on response times, use of force, and diversion rates. The program would authorize $25 million each year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
Keeps police role and state rules
If enacted, the bill would not force communities to remove police from emergency responses. It would not override state laws on involuntary psychiatric holds, involuntary treatment, or other emergency powers. This clause would take effect upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
NJ • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]
AZ • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
NY • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]
OR • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]
MS • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]
IL • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]
TX • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]
LA • D
Sponsored 10/14/2025
Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13]
IL • D
Sponsored 10/31/2025
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
MA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov