Dillon’s Law

Overview: HR 4564, known as Dillon's Law, was introduced in the House on July 21, 2025.

Purpose and Intent: The bill is named after Dillon Cossey, a young man with autism who was tragically killed by police during a mental health crisis. The legislation aims to improve law enforcement training and response protocols for encounters with individuals experiencing mental health emergencies.

Key Provisions:
- Requires all state and local law enforcement officers to undergo crisis intervention training to learn de-escalation techniques for mental health-related calls
- Mandates the development of specialized response teams comprised of law enforcement and mental health professionals to handle mental health crises
- Provides grant funding to states and localities to implement the training and response team requirements

Affected Parties and Impacts: The bill would directly impact law enforcement agencies and personnel, who would be required to undergo specialized training. It could also benefit individuals experiencing mental health crises by improving the safety and effectiveness of police interactions.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations: Dillon's Law has been introduced in the House and is currently awaiting further legislative action. If enacted, the training and response team requirements would need to be implemented by state and local agencies within a specified timeframe.