9–8–8 Connect Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4640
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-21: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2444-2445)
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-24T18:29:19Z
AI-Generated Summary
## Purpose This legislation, known as the 9-8-8 Connect Act, aims to strengthen the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system by funding follow-up support for individuals who contact the 9-8-8 lifeline and by expanding access to 9-8-8 services through mobile networks and multi-line telephone systems.
## Key Provisions
- Grants for Follow-Up Services: Creates a new grant program under the Public Health Service Act. The Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, awards grants to eligible crisis centers that are part of the 9-8-8 network. Funds support services such as well-being check-ins, outreach to connect individuals with care, collaboration with family or supports, and referrals for appropriate treatment.
- Eligibility and Selection: Grants go to centers based on demonstrated needs, capacity, and service gaps. Technical assistance is provided on best practices.
- Consent and Privacy Rules: Follow-up services require informed consent from the individual. Centers must clearly explain the nature, duration, and types of contact involved, and individuals may withdraw consent at any time. Personally identifiable information may not be shared with third parties without written, revocable consent (except where required by law). Services must avoid involuntary interventions unless there is imminent risk. The Secretary must issue model national standards for consent and privacy within one year, aligned with existing federal and state privacy laws.
- 9-8-8 Accessibility Improvements: Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to issue regulations within 270 days ensuring commercial mobile service providers transmit all calls and text messages to 9-8-8, including those from non-service-initialized handsets using compatible technology. Providers must comply within one year of the regulations.
- Multi-Line Telephone Systems: Amends existing law to require direct dialing to 9-8-8 on multi-line systems, with the changes applying two years after enactment. An exception applies to older systems that cannot be updated without hardware or software changes.
- Funding: Authorizes $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 for the grant program, available until expended.
## Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds a new section (520E-5) to the Public Health Service Act focused on post-contact follow-up for 9-8-8 users, with specific consent and privacy requirements.
- Extends multi-line telephone system direct-dialing mandates (previously limited to 9-1-1) to include 9-8-8 under the Communications Act of 1934.
- Introduces new FCC regulatory authority over transmission of 9-8-8 calls and texts from mobile providers, including non-service-initialized devices.
## Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases responsibilities for the FCC to develop and enforce new transmission rules, and for the Department of Health and Human Services to administer grants, provide technical assistance, and create privacy standards.
- Citizens: May improve continuity of care for people experiencing mental health or substance use crises by enabling proactive follow-up after initial 9-8-8 contact, while protecting privacy through consent requirements.
- International Relations: No direct effects identified.
- Other: Requires compliance investments from mobile service providers and operators of multi-line telephone systems.
## Main Stakeholders Affected
- Crisis centers participating in the 9-8-8 network.
- Individuals contacting 9-8-8 for suicide prevention or mental health support.
- Providers of commercial mobile services.
- Operators of multi-line telephone systems (such as businesses and institutions).
- The Federal Communications Commission and the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use.
## Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill emphasizes informed consent and limits on information sharing in mental health follow-up services, reinforcing alignment with privacy protections under laws like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. It expands regulatory oversight in communications without altering core constitutional structures, focusing instead on public health access and technical interoperability. Implementation timelines provide phased compliance periods for affected industries.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (5)
Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC], Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME], Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-21: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2444-2445)
- 2026-05-21: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- 9–8–8 Connect Act — issued 2026-05-21 — PDF (7 pages)