Bill
SB 25-042
Expands community-based behavioral health crisis responses to reduce law enforcement and ED involvement by funding mobile teams, crisis centers, and coordinated care.
Status: Governor Signed (3/26/2025)
Introduced: 1/8/2025
Classification: Bill
Note on scope: The official bill text was not included with the materials provided. The summary below combines (A) the bill’s title and legislative record (which confirm enactment and legislative movement) and (B) a clear description of the likely purpose, typical provisions, affected parties, and impacts for a bill titled “Behavioral Health Crisis Response Recommendations.” Where I infer likely content, I mark it as such; for exact statutory language, effective dates, funding amounts, or mandated deadlines, refer to the enacted bill text.
Based on the title, SB 25‑042 directs the state to implement recommendations to improve responses to behavioral health crises. The primary policy goals are typically to:
- Expand community‑based crisis response options,
- Reduce unnecessary law‑enforcement involvement and emergency department use,
- Improve outcomes for people experiencing mental health or substance‑use crises,
- Strengthen coordination among behavioral health providers, public health agencies, and public safety.
The bill moved through Health & Human Services and Appropriations committees in the Senate and was amended in both chambers before final concurrence.
Primary sponsors (House): Lisa Cutter; Judy Amabile; Mary Bradfield; Regina English
Many co‑sponsors from both chambers, including M. Duran, C. Kolker, J. Jackson, J. Joseph, C. Kipp, A. Boesenecker, S. Bird, D. Michaelson Jenet, M. Ball, J. Bacon, I. Jodeh, S. Camacho, M. Snyder, J. Gonzales, R. Rodriguez, B. Marshall, S. Lieder, M. Weissman, J. Danielson, M. Lukens, J. Bridges, F. Winter, T. Sullivan, J. Coleman, K. Brown, and K. Stewart.
Because the bill text is not available here, the following items are commonly included in “behavioral health crisis response” legislation and likely reflect the bill’s content:
- Establishment or expansion of mobile crisis teams (clinician‑led teams that respond in the community).
- Development or certification standards for crisis response providers and training requirements (including de‑escalation and culturally competent care).
- Funding mechanisms or appropriations to support crisis services, including Medicaid reimbursement changes or grant programs.
- Creation or expansion of crisis stabilization centers or short‑term hold facilities as alternatives to EDs or jails.
- Data collection and reporting requirements (outcomes, utilization, law‑enforcement contacts).
- Roles/coordination between state agencies (e.g., Departments of Human Services, Public Health, Behavioral Health), local governments, and 911/988 crisis lines.
- Provisions to limit or clarify law enforcement’s role in certain behavioral health responses and promote diversion to care.
- Timelines and deliverables (e.g., reports to the legislature, implementation deadlines) — if included, these will be specified in the bill text.
If you’d like, I can:
- Retrieve and summarize the enacted bill text and specific statutory changes,
- Extract funding amounts, effective dates, and exact implementation timelines,
- Compare this bill to previous crisis‑response laws (e.g., 988 implementation).
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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