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119-hr-7092119th CongressWALLET

RAYS Act

Sponsored By: Representative Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]

Introduced

Summary

**This bill would require local educational agencies that receive federal funds to put *mental health and suicide prevention contact information on secondary student ID cards*.** If a school does not issue IDs the same contact information must be posted on publicly accessible websites, student portals, and software platforms regularly used by secondary students.

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  • Students and families: Secondary students would have 988, the Crisis Text Line, and a state or local suicide-prevention hotline listed on IDs or online, making emergency contacts easier to find in a crisis.
  • School staff and counselors: LEAs could optionally add school counselor or other school mental health contact information and may include the required contacts on teacher and staff IDs.
  • Local educational agencies: LEAs must choose how to include the information, for example printing it or affixing stickers. If a listed service becomes unavailable the Education Secretary may designate an alternative and must notify LEAs within 60 days.
  • Outreach and accessibility: The Education Secretary, coordinating with the Health and Human Services Secretary and others, would run awareness campaigns and ensure information is accessible to people with physical, developmental, and intellectual disabilities.
  • Timing: The act’s amendments take effect one year after enactment; the ID contact requirement applies to school years beginning after the effective date and certain publication requirements begin 60 days after the effective date.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Federal campaign on youth hotlines

This bill would require the Secretary of Education, working with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and other agencies, to run outreach about 988, the Crisis Text Line, and local suicide hotlines. The outreach would use school programs, websites, social media, and other channels. Materials would have to be accessible to students and community members with physical, developmental, and intellectual disabilities. This outreach requirement would begin one year after the date of enactment if the bill becomes law.

Student IDs to show crisis hotlines

This bill would require local school districts that issue secondary student ID cards to include contact information for 988, the Crisis Text Line, and any available State or local suicide prevention hotline. If a district does not issue ID cards, the same contact information would be posted on a public agency website and on student computer portals within 60 days after the bill takes effect. Schools could print the information, affix stickers, or use other methods the district chooses, and they could optionally add counselor or staff contacts. The Secretary could name an alternative service if 988 or the Crisis Text Line stops operating and must notify districts and provide the new contact information within 60 days. Schools would not have to change ID cards already issued before the bill's effective date.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]

LA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 9/28/2026

  • Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12]

    NC • D

    Sponsored 1/15/2026

  • Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large]

    GU • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2026

  • Rep. Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 1/15/2026

  • Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large]

    DE • D

    Sponsored 6/23/2026

  • Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]

    NY • R

    Sponsored 6/23/2026

  • Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 9/15/2026

  • Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 9/15/2026

  • Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 9/15/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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