Bills · HR 8122
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 8122Health
9–8–8 Connect Act
This bill provides funding for crisis centers to check in on people after a mental health emergency and requires all phone systems to allow direct, free access to the 9-8-8 hotline.AI-written
INTRO MAR 26· LAST ACTION MAR 26
READING
4MIN
COSPONSORS
1
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
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- Introduced only
tl;dr
AI-writtenProvides $30 million for post-crisis check-ins and ensures 9-8-8 works on every phone—including office lines and phones without active service plans—to close gaps in mental health emergency response.
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenCurrently, many people who call a crisis line get immediate help but are left on their own once the phone call ends, which is a high-risk period for recurring crises. This bill tries to close that gap by funding 'follow-up' care, ensuring that the initial call is the start of a recovery process rather than just a temporary fix.
It also addresses life-threatening technical delays. In an emergency, every second counts; if a person in distress cannot dial out because of a complex office phone system or because their prepaid phone plan expired, the results can be tragic. By standardizing 9-8-8 to work exactly like 9-1-1, the bill aims to make mental health support as reliable and accessible as police or fire services.
KEY PROVISIONS
4AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Creates a grant program for follow-up services at crisis centers.
It ensures people receive ongoing support and check-ins after a crisis call, reducing the risk of a relapse.
PROVISION 02
Requires phone carriers to transmit 9-8-8 calls from phones without active service plans.
It ensures that even the most vulnerable people with limited financial resources can always reach emergency mental health help.
PROVISION 03
Mandates that multi-line phone systems allow direct dialing of 9-8-8.
It removes the confusion and delay of having to dial a prefix like '9' to reach the crisis hotline in offices or hotels.
PROVISION 04
Provides technical assistance to crisis centers on best practices.
It helps smaller centers implement high-quality follow-up programs that are proven to work.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 1
D· Maryland
YRS IN OFFICE
9
BILLS LED
37
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 0 REP 1 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSMAR 26
Introduced in House
MAR 26
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 8122
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedMar 26, 2026
Last actionMar 26, 2026
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED MAR 26, 2026
House BillHR 8122Health
9–8–8 Connect Act
This bill provides funding for crisis centers to check in on people after a mental health emergency and requires all phone systems to allow direct, free access to the 9-8-8 hotline.AI-written
INTRODUCED MAR 26, 2026· LAST ACTION MAR 26, 2026
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
4 min
COSPONSORS
1
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
