988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2026

Bill Number

S. 3199

Origin Chamber

Senate

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Health

Status

Passed Senate

Latest Action

2026-05-12: Held at the desk.

Last Updated

2026-05-18T20:50:59Z

AI-Generated Summary

988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2026 (S. 3199)

Purpose

This Act directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to start a public inquiry and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study on challenges in sending location information (like precise geolocation or "dispatchable location," which is an exact address usable by emergency responders) with calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The goal is to gather recommendations to improve location accuracy for faster crisis response.

Key Provisions

• FCC Notice of Inquiry (due within 270 days of enactment):
• Examines barriers to transmitting geolocation with 988 calls.
• Considers legal powers to require it, consumer privacy protections, technical feasibility for phone companies and crisis centers, costs and funding options, challenges for video calls (e.g., American Sign Language users), and current technologies for sharing location data between 988 and 911 centers.
• GAO Study and Report (due within 180 days of enactment):
• Analyzes opportunities and hurdles for 988 geolocation implementation.
• Covers privacy policies, legal authority, technical standards for various providers and centers, and cost recovery or funding needs.
• Requires consultation with telecom providers, device makers, emergency centers, governments (including rural areas), 988 Lifeline, crisis centers, Veterans Crisis Line, mental health groups, and experts on services for deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals.
• Definitions: Clarifies terms like "dispatchable location," "emergency communications center" (e.g., 911 call centers), and key providers.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• No direct amendments to laws or regulations.
• Introduces new mandates for FCC inquiry and GAO study/report, building on existing 988 Lifeline rules by focusing on location data improvements without immediate enforcement.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: FCC and GAO must allocate resources for inquiry and study; congressional committees (Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; Energy and Commerce) receive reports for future action.
• Citizens: Could enhance 988 Lifeline effectiveness by enabling quicker location-based responses to suicide/crisis calls, potentially saving lives, especially in rural or video-based services.
• No direct international relations impact.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Telecommunications and 911 providers: Face potential new technical and cost requirements.
• Crisis and emergency centers: Including 988 Lifeline, Veterans Crisis Line, local crisis centers, and 911 public safety answering points.
• Governments: State/local levels, especially small/rural communities.
• Device manufacturers and mental health organizations.
• Users: Callers to 988, including deaf/hard-of-hearing individuals using video services.
• Federal agencies: FCC, GAO, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Privacy and Legal Authority: Highlights tensions between mandating location sharing (for public safety) and protecting caller privacy; inquiry/study will assess if FCC has power to require it without new laws.
• Funding/Costs: Emphasizes need for cost recovery options, avoiding unfunded mandates on providers.
• Equity: Addresses rural, small communities, and accessibility for deaf users, promoting inclusive crisis response.
• Political: Bipartisan potential in mental health/suicide prevention; sets stage for future regulations based on findings.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]

Cosponsors (12)

Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM], Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN], Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV], Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID], Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT], Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE], Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY], Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH], Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID], Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA], Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]

Recent Actions

• 2026-05-12: Held at the desk.
• 2026-05-12: Received in the House.
• 2026-05-12: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
• 2026-05-11: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2204-2205; text: CR S2204-2205)
• 2026-05-11: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
• 2026-04-22: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 379.
• 2026-04-22: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 119-119.
• 2026-04-22: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 119-119.
• 2026-02-12: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
• 2025-11-19: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text: CR S8241-8242)
• 2025-11-19: Introduced in Senate

Bill Versions

• 988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2026 — issued 2026-05-11 — PDF (8 pages)
• 988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2025 — issued 2025-11-19 — PDF (12 pages)
• 988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2026 — issued 2026-04-22 — PDF (18 pages)