Sponsors (13)
Introduced November 19, 2025 by John A. Barrasso · Last progress May 12, 2026
The bill aims to improve 988 crisis response and accessibility through a coordinated study and committee while limiting near-term federal spending, but it risks delays, privacy trade-offs, operational disruption, and added costs that could fall on taxpayers, providers, or consumers.
People in crisis ( callers to 988 ) will be more likely to be located and reached because the bill directs a study and committee work to enable transmission of geolocation and dispatchable location with 988 calls.
People who are deaf or hard of hearing will have improved access to 988 because the committee must include expertise in video and relay services and consider accessibility.
Rural and small-community residents will have specified representation and clearer geographic targeting because the bill defines low-population categories and requires state/local and rural representation on the committee.
Taxpayers, consumers, and local governments may face substantial costs because implementing geolocation transmission and committee staffing/operations requires investment while the bill relies on existing appropriations that may be insufficient.
Callers' privacy could be reduced because mandating or encouraging transmission of location data with 988 calls raises surveillance and confidentiality concerns unless legal safeguards are specified.
911/PSAPs and local crisis centers may experience operational disruption because technical and operational changes across emergency systems could be complex and reduce reliability during transition.
Based on analysis of 8 sections of legislative text.
Creates an FCC-HHS advisory committee to study and recommend how to transmit geolocation (including dispatchable location) with 988 and related crisis calls and report within one year.
Creates an FCC-HHS advisory committee to study how to transmit precise caller location (including dispatchable location) with 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline calls and related crisis lines, produce technical and policy recommendations, and report to Congress within one year. The committee will include telecoms, handset makers, public safety answering points, 988 and local crisis center representatives, federal mental health officials, and state/local government representatives; it operates under existing appropriations and terminates 30 days after delivering its report.