Sponsors (2)
The bill substantially expands federal support for integrated crisis-care infrastructure and homelessness-related services, delivering direct benefits to people in crisis and local providers while imposing large ongoing federal costs and risks of uneven access, variable quality, and potential criminalization through law‑enforcement coordination.
People with behavioral health conditions and substance use disorders gain access to integrated crisis care (including medication for opioid use disorder and counseling), improving immediate treatment and diversion from emergency rooms.
Local governments, community organizations, law enforcement, and EMS receive dedicated federal grants to build or expand crisis centers — with funding that can cover capital, staffing, and equipment — improving local capacity and coordination.
People experiencing homelessness gain enhanced housing‑first and transitional housing supports connected to crisis care, helping stabilize housing and link people to treatment.
Taxpayers face a substantial federal cost: the program authorizes about $11.5 billion per year from 2026–2030, which could increase federal spending and deficits absent offsets.
Requirement to coordinate crisis programs with law enforcement and emergency services could increase risk of criminalization for people in crisis if local protocols emphasize enforcement rather than diversion and care.
Grant competition and allocation methods may favor larger jurisdictions, producing unequal access and slower roll‑out of services in smaller or rural communities.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a competitive HHS grant program to fund establishment, operation, and expansion of one-stop behavioral health crisis centers covering capital, services, staffing, coordination, and outreach.
Introduced October 28, 2025 by Adam Smith · Last progress October 28, 2025
Creates a competitive HHS grant program to help establish, operate, and expand one-stop behavioral health crisis centers. Grants may pay for capital projects, equipment, staffing and training, a wide range of behavioral health and wrap‑around services (including medication for opioid use disorder), housing and legal assistance, coordination with partners (law enforcement, EMS, housing authorities, veterans groups, diversion programs, etc.), outreach to high-need populations, and subgrants to nongovernmental providers. The program includes formulas to allocate funds among metropolitan cities, nonentitlement localities, counties, States, Indian Tribes (with the Interior Secretary determining 75% of Tribal allotments), and U.S. territories on a population-proportional basis.