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S 1399

An Act to increase investment in behavioral health care in the Commonwealth

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Cindy Friedman

Massachusetts bill increases behavioral health care investment to expand mental health and substance use treatment access and capacity statewide.

Accompanied a study order, see S2813
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Bill Summary · S 1399

Legislative bill overview

S 1399 proposes increased state investment in behavioral health care services across Massachusetts. The bill was referred to the Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery committee in February 2025 and has undergone legislative hearings. It remains under committee review with an accompanying study order (S2813) filed in December.

Why is this important

Behavioral health care—including mental health and substance use treatment—faces persistent funding gaps and access barriers in Massachusetts. Increased investment could expand treatment capacity, reduce wait times, and improve outcomes for individuals with mental illness and addiction disorders, while potentially reducing emergency department utilization and incarceration rates.

Potential points of contention

  • Funding source: Whether new revenue is required (taxes, budget reallocation) or how existing resources would be redirected
  • Implementation scope: Disagreement over which services receive priority (inpatient, outpatient, peer support, medication-assisted treatment, etc.)
  • Provider compensation and workforce: How increased funding addresses clinician shortages, training programs, and wage competitiveness versus administration costs

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

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