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H 4667

An Act building resilience and increasing access to mental health services

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Brandy Fluker-Reid and 1 co-sponsor

Creates a DMH grant program to boost mental health capacity and access for nonprofits and communities at high risk of hate crimes, with training, referrals, and equity.

Reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Health Care Financing
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Bill Summary · H 4667

Summary of H.4667: An Act Building Resilience and Increasing Access to Mental Health Services

Overview

H.4667, titled “An Act building resilience and increasing access to mental health services,” is a Massachusetts bill introduced on November 5, 2025. The measure would create a Department of Mental Health (DMH) grant program to address heightened mental health needs in nonprofit organizations at high risk of hate crimes and in nonprofits that serve populations at high risk of hate crimes. The bill emphasizes building staff capacity, culturally competent practices, and community-focused programming. The program is subject to appropriation and would be guided by regulations issued by the DMH.

Purpose and Intent

  • Increase behavioral health capacity in nonprofits serving or situating within communities disproportionately affected by hate crimes.
  • Strengthen staff competencies who frequently interact with targeted populations.
  • Expand supportive programming for staff and communities to improve access to and quality of mental health services.

Key Provisions

Establishment and Scope

  • Creation of a mental health capacity grant program within the DMH, to be funded “subject to appropriation.”
  • Eligible recipients: nonprofit organizations at high risk of hate crimes and nonprofits that serve populations at high risk of hate crimes (definitions drawn from section 32 of chapter 22C of the General Laws).

Authorized Use of Grants

Grants may be used to implement programming tailored to each organization’s needs, including but not limited to:
- Mental health first aid training for staff and volunteers.
- Culturally responsive referral programs.
- Community education and efforts to destigmatize mental health supports.
- Other programming demonstrated to positively affect mental health.

Administration and Equity

  • DMH shall promulgate regulations and may issue guidance on grantmaking.
  • Grants should be distributed in a geographically equitable manner across the Commonwealth.
  • Distribution should correlate with bias types identified in the most recent annual hate crime report by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.

Reporting and Accountability

  • The Commissioner of Mental Health must file an annual report (within 12 months of the first grant distribution and each year thereafter) with:
    • Clerks of the Senate and House, and relevant committees (including mental health, racial equity, civil rights, and ways and means).
    • Information to include: number of applications, number of grants awarded, dollar amount per grant, organizational missions of grantees, programming funded, priority populations, and regional distribution aligned with hate crime data.

Affected Parties

  • Primary: nonprofit organizations at high risk of hate crimes and those serving high-risk populations.
  • Indirect: staff who interact with targeted communities; communities facing hate crime threats or impacts.

Timeline and Status

  • Introduced and filed: November 5, 2025.
  • Legislative actions: Reported favorably by the Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery; referred to the Committee on Health Care Financing; new draft associated with House No. 2207.

Potential Impact

  • Enhanced mental health capacity and access within vulnerable communities.
  • More culturally competent and stigma-reducing mental health services.
  • Data-driven grantmaking and transparent reporting to inform policy and future funding.
  • Geographically equitable distribution of funds aligned with hate crime patterns.

Notes

  • The program’s execution depends on future appropriation and final regulatory provisions. The bill emphasizes alignment with hate crime data and interagency collaboration for accountability.

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

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