Behavioral Health Crisis Care Centers Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5859
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-10-28: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2025-11-26T15:25:26Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Behavioral Health Crisis Care Centers Act of 2025 aims to improve access to integrated care for individuals experiencing behavioral health crises, substance use disorders, or homelessness by funding "one-stop crisis facilities." These facilities provide a single location for on-site behavioral health and substance use treatment, housing services, and coordination with community resources like health care, legal aid, and case management.
Key Provisions
- Grant Program Establishment: The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), in consultation with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Attorney General, the Secretary of the Interior, and other relevant federal agencies, will award grants to eligible entities to establish, operate, or expand one-stop crisis facilities.
- Eligible Activities: Grant funds can support:
- Acquiring, building, or developing facilities and equipment.
- Training, hiring, and retaining staff.
- Delivering services such as behavioral health treatment (including medication for opioid use disorder), counseling, case management, housing assistance (e.g., financial aid for rent), legal services, and other supportive (wrap-around) services.
- Coordinating with partners like law enforcement, emergency services, health providers, housing authorities, community organizations, veteran groups, and jail diversion programs.
- Outreach to vulnerable groups, including those in public or federally assisted housing, youth, homeless individuals, and high-need communities.
- Planning for system-wide coordination in crisis response.
- Subgrants: Grant recipients can award subgrants to nongovernmental organizations for services like staff training, direct care, coordination, and outreach.
- Fund Allocation Formula: Funds are distributed proportionally based on population or equally among recipients:
- Metropolitan cities: Proportional to population.
- Nonentitlement units of local government (smaller local governments not receiving certain federal formula aid): Proportional to population.
- Counties: Half equally distributed, half proportional to population.
- States (including D.C.): Half equally, half proportional to population.
- Indian Tribes: 25% equally, 75% determined by the Secretary of the Interior.
- Territories (Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa): Proportional to population.
- Application Requirements: Eligible entities must submit a plan detailing:
- Stakeholder input, especially from those with lived experience of crises, disabilities, and community groups.
- Collaboration with community organizations for timely service connections.
- Housing-first strategies for adults experiencing homelessness and transitional support for youth.
- Equitable access, including cultural competency and trauma-informed training for staff.
- Diversion from law enforcement, emergency services, and hospitals to the facilities.
- "Home-like" and accessible facility design informed by lived experiences.
- Partnerships with housing providers for supportive services.
- Youth-specific programming.
- Nondiscrimination: Prohibits exclusion or discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), or disability in any funded program.
- Definitions:
- "One-stop crisis facility": A single-site hub for behavioral health/substance use services, housing, and community coordination.
- Eligible entities: Metropolitan cities, nonentitlement units, counties, states, Indian Tribes, and territories (terms defined per existing federal law).
- Funding Authorization: $11.5 billion annually for fiscal years 2026–2030, allocated as follows:
- $3 billion for metropolitan cities.
- $1 billion for nonentitlement units.
- $3 billion for counties.
- $2 billion for states.
- $2 billion for Indian Tribes.
- $500 million for territories.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new federal grant program under HHS, creating dedicated funding for one-stop crisis facilities that integrate behavioral health, housing, and wrap-around services. It does not amend specific existing laws but builds on frameworks like those in the Social Security Act for defining local government types. The emphasis on diversion from law enforcement and housing-first approaches formalizes and expands coordinated crisis response beyond current fragmented services.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: HHS will administer the program, requiring new grant management, application reviews, and interagency consultations (e.g., with HUD for housing and DOJ for legal services). Local and state governments, counties, and tribes gain resources but must develop detailed plans and ensure compliance with equity and nondiscrimination rules, potentially increasing administrative workloads.
- Citizens: Improves access to timely, comprehensive care for individuals in behavioral health crises, substance use disorders, homelessness, or vulnerability (e.g., youth, disabled persons, immigrants). Could reduce emergency room visits, arrests, or shelter reliance by promoting diversion to supportive facilities, benefiting underserved communities through outreach and equitable services.
- International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. entities and populations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Eligible Recipients: Metropolitan cities, nonentitlement local governments, counties, states, Indian Tribes, and U.S. territories, which can apply for and distribute funds.
- Service Providers and Communities: Community-based organizations, faith-based groups, housing authorities, health care entities, law enforcement, emergency services, veteran organizations, and immigrant/refugee assistance programs, which partner in coordination and subgrants.
- Individuals and Groups: People experiencing behavioral health crises, substance use disorders, homelessness, youth in crisis, disabled persons, and residents of public/federally assisted housing, who gain access to integrated, non-discriminatory services.
- Federal Agencies: HHS (lead), HUD, DOJ, Interior Department, and others involved in oversight and consultation.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens nondiscrimination protections by explicitly including sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability, aligning with federal civil rights laws (e.g., similar to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act). Requires trauma-informed and culturally competent practices, potentially setting standards for funded programs and enabling enforcement through grant conditions.
- Constitutional: No major challenges anticipated; supports equal protection by promoting equitable access and does not infringe on states' rights, as funding is voluntary via grants. Consultation with tribes respects sovereignty under federal Indian law.
- Political: Addresses pressing national issues like the mental health crisis and homelessness through substantial new funding ($57.5 billion over five years), which could foster bipartisan support but may spark debates over federal spending priorities, equity mandates, and diversion from traditional law enforcement responses.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
Recent Actions
- 2025-10-28: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-10-28: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-10-28: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-10-28: Introduced in House
- 2025-10-28: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Behavioral Health Crisis Care Centers Act of 2025 — issued 2025-10-28 — PDF (11 pages)