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S 5137

A bill to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to establish a grant program to be known as the Mental Health Licensure Portability Program to award grants to eligible entities, and for other purposes.

119th Congress Introduced by Angus King

Establishes a HRSA grant program to advance mental health licensure portability, enabling licensed professionals to practice across jurisdictions and expand access.

Introduced in Senate
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Bill Summary · S 5137

Overview

S. 5137, introduced in the 119th Congress and co-sponsored by Senator Angus King, seeks to establish a grant program under the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The program is titled the Mental Health Licensure Portability Program. The bill directs HRSA to award grants to eligible entities to advance the portability and availability of licensed mental health professionals across jurisdictions.

Purpose and intent

  • Create a federal grant program to improve mental health licensure portability.
  • Facilitate the ability of licensed mental health professionals to practice across state lines or licensing jurisdictions, thereby expanding access to mental health services.
  • Support initiatives that reduce barriers related to licensure requirements, reciprocity, and recognition of credentials across states and territories.

Key provisions and changes

  • Establishment of the Mental Health Licensure Portability Program within HRSA (acting through the Administrator of the HRSA).
  • Authorization of grants to eligible entities. While the bill text provided here does not enumerate every eligible entity, typical eligible entities in such programs include state or local governments, universities, non-profit organizations, healthcare systems, or professional associations involved in licensure, regulation, or workforce development.
  • Grants likely to support activities such as:
    • Development and implementation of mobility-friendly licensure processes.
    • Pilot programs or compacts that recognize out-of-state credentials.
    • Data collection, evaluation, and reporting on licensure portability outcomes.
    • Technical assistance and infrastructure to streamline licensure recognition, including telehealth-related licensure considerations.
  • The bill would require administration of the grants by HRSA and set parameters for funding use, reporting, and program evaluation, though exact performance metrics and detailed requirements would be specified in accompanying program guidance or subsequent implementing rules.

Who would be affected

  • Mental health professionals seeking licensure mobility or easier cross-jurisdiction practice.
  • States, jurisdictions, or licensing boards involved in mental health credentialing and reciprocity processes.
  • Eligible entities applying for and managing grants to advance licensure portability, including healthcare systems, professional associations, and educational institutions.
  • Regions with workforce shortages or barriers to cross-state practice could experience improved access to mental health care.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Date of introduction: 2026 (S. 5137 introduced in the Senate).
  • Action history: Read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) on July 27, 2026.
  • Next steps (typical for such bills): Committee consideration, potential amendments, reporting, and floor consideration. If enacted, grants would be awarded according to program guidelines and annual appropriations.
  • The bill’s enactment would depend on passage by both chambers and signature by the President, followed by the implementation phase by HRSA.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Positive impact: Increased licensure portability could reduce barriers for clinicians to serve in multiple jurisdictions, potentially alleviating shortages and increasing access to mental health services, including underserved communities.
  • Implementation considerations: Coordination with state licensing boards, ensuring patient safety and professional competency, safeguarding against abuse of portability waivers, and aligning with existing interstate compacts or telehealth regulations.
  • Evaluation: The program would likely include performance metrics and reporting to assess increases in cross-jurisdiction practice, patient access, and service utilization, as well as cost-effectiveness.

If you would like, I can tailor this summary to emphasize specific stakeholder groups (e.g., clinicians, state boards, patient access) or compare it to existing licensure portability efforts and interstate compacts.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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