Connecting Students with Mental Health Services Act
Sponsored By: Representative Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create a grant program to expand student mental and behavioral health care delivered by telehealth, with a focus on students in rural and high-need schools. It would fund school partnerships with local health providers to set up telehealth services and support required staff and equipment.
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- Students and families: Would increase access to behavioral and mental health care through telehealth in K-12 schools, targeting students in rural areas, high-poverty schools, and Health Professional Shortage Areas.
- School districts and educational service agencies: Eligible applicants must be partnerships between a local educational agency or consortium and a community health care provider or educational service agency, and could use funds for space, technology, and staff to run telehealth programs.
- Community health providers and workforce: Grants could pay for telehealth equipment, technology upgrades, and hiring or extra compensation for staff who administer school telehealth services.
- Program rules and oversight: Applicants would need a telehealth plan and assurances that student data collection and use comply with applicable privacy laws. A joint report to Congress by Sept. 30, 2027 would analyze program impact and offer reauthorization and improvement recommendations.
*Would authorize $5.0 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2029 to carry out the program, increasing federal spending by that amount over those years.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Grants to expand K-12 mental telehealth
This bill would create school grants to support student mental and behavioral health through telehealth. The Education Department, with HHS, would set up the program within 180 days of enactment. Grantees could buy or upgrade equipment, set up space and personnel, and hire or pay staff to run telehealth. Priority would go to high‑poverty schools, rural schools, and schools in health professional shortage areas. It would authorize $5 million each year for 2026–2029; Congress would still need to appropriate the money.
2027 report on student telehealth use
By September 30, 2027, the Education and HHS Secretaries would report to Congress on how many students used telehealth, including mental and behavioral health services. The report would be public and could not include any student’s personal information. It would also give recommendations to reauthorize, expand, or improve the program.
Which providers can partner with schools
The bill would define who counts as a community health care provider for these grants. Some university health systems could qualify. Providers that do not accept Medicaid would be excluded from partnering. It would also define telehealth as health care and related services delivered using electronic technologies.
Who can apply and key grant rules
To apply, a partnership would be required: a school district (or consortium) with a community health provider or an educational service agency. Applicants would need to file a plan for the telehealth program and promise to follow all student privacy laws. Grant funds would have to add to, not replace, existing federal, state, or local funds for the same work.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]
OH • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5]
OR • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]
PA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
NJ • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Craig
MN • D
Sponsored 9/3/2025
Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]
VT • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov