Healthcare (Mental Health)

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 30, 2026

H 2224: An Act relative to improving mental health care through innovation

HD 2525 establishes a state program to advance mental health technology innovation through grants for research, development, and pilot projects. It creates a dedicated "Mental Health and Innovation Fund" (not subject to annual appropriation) to support mental healthcare technology initiatives, funded by grants, private contributions, and investment income. The bill mandates an oversight committee - including agency leaders, tech experts, and parent advocates - to guide the program and fund use. This directly affects state mental health agencies, healthcare providers receiving grants, and technology companies developing mental health solutions. The policy focuses on closing the innovation gap in mental healthcare by leveraging Massachusetts' existing strengths in biotech and medical technology sectors.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill authorizes new mental health treatment program, directly advancing mental health services under healthcare topic per summary and subjects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 26, 2026

S 1394: An Act ensuring efficient and effective implementation of behavioral health reform

By Mr. Cyr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1394) of Julian Cyr for legislation to ensure efficient and effective implementation of behavioral health reform. Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly focuses on implementing behavioral health reform, directly supporting mental health and substance use services through efficient implementation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Dec 4, 2025

H 4667: An Act building resilience and increasing access to mental health services

This bill establishes a state grant program to help nonprofits serving communities at high risk of hate crimes, or nonprofits themselves facing hate crime threats, improve mental health support. The Department of Mental Health will fund grants for staff training (like mental health first aid), culturally responsive referrals, community education, and other programs addressing mental health needs. Grants must be distributed equitably across Massachusetts and align with the state's previous year's hate crime report data. The program requires annual reports detailing grant recipients, funding amounts, programming used, and how funds target communities based on hate crime trends.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates state grants to fund mental health support programs, directly increasing access and strengthening mental health services for high-risk communities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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passed · Massachusetts · House Jan 15, 2026

H 743: An Act establishing a grant program to increase the presence of mental health counselors in schools

This bill establishes a state grant program to help Massachusetts school districts hire more mental health professionals for students. School districts can apply for funds to cover either the salary of in-house counselors or costs for outside mental health service providers. The program requires districts to use grant money specifically for mental health support staff or contracted services, with the Department of Education setting certification rules for funded professionals. The goal is to directly increase mental health resources available to students across participating school districts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes grant program to fund mental health counselors in schools, directly increasing educational support services for students.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates grant program to fund mental health counselors in schools, directly supporting mental health services under healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Mental Health

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passed · Massachusetts · House Jul 10, 2025

H 708: An Act requiring a mental health wellness examination for all school children

This bill requires all public school children in Massachusetts to receive a mental health wellness examination by a licensed professional within 12 months prior to kindergarten entry or within 30 days of the school year start. Parents must provide certification of this exam to school health staff, with religious exemptions available via written request. Private school students (meeting specific non-discrimination criteria) may opt-in through parental request, and private schools not conducting exams must inform parents and recommend they arrange them. The bill mandates detailed written reports from examiners to schools and parents, including diagnoses, treatment plans, and educational adjustments. It also adds funding provisions to support mental health wellness exams in underserved school districts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates mental health wellness exams for school children, enhancing student support services within education policy.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires mental health wellness exams for school children, advancing access to mental health services within healthcare policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Mental Health

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 9, 2026

S 708: An Act preserving access to treatment for patients with serious mental illnesses

By Mr. Cronin, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 708) of John J. Cronin for legislation to preserve access to treatment for patients with serious mental illnesses. Financial Services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly preserves access to mental health treatment, directly supporting mental health services under healthcare policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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passed · Massachusetts · House Jan 8, 2026

H 1276: An Act improving access to community behavioral health centers

This bill requires health plans in Massachusetts to cover "behavioral health bundled services" provided by licensed community behavioral health centers (CBHCs) on a nondiscriminatory basis. It applies to Commonwealth employees (active/retired) and all insured individuals covered under group or individual health insurance policies, including hospital/surgical plans and health maintenance contracts. The law defines CBHCs as DPH-licensed clinics and specifies that covered services include mental health, developmental, and substance use disorder care delivered through a flat-rate billing model per encounter. The key mechanism ensures these services are treated equally with other medical benefits in insurance coverage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly improves access to behavioral health services through expanded coverage, directly supporting mental health care access as per topic description.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Sep 22, 2025

S 441: An Act ensuring access to mental health supports in K-12 schools

By Ms. Rausch, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 441) of Rebecca L. Rausch for legislation to ensuring access to mental health supports in K-12 schools. Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates mental health supports in K-12 schools, directly enhancing student well-being and program quality within the education topic area.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates mental health supports in K-12 schools, directly expanding access to mental health services under healthcare topic95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Mental Health

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 8, 2026

S 1387: An Act enabling physician assistants to authorize psychiatric holds and ensure adequate training on their use

By Mr. Cronin, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1387) of John J. Cronin, Steven George Xiarhos, Bruce E. Tarr and John F. Keenan relative to authorizing physician assistants to issue psychiatric holds and ensure adequate training on their use. Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables physician assistants to issue psychiatric holds, expanding mental health access and requiring training to ensure proper use under mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 25, 2026

H 2199: An Act ending unnecessary hospitalizations

HD 2149 requires mental health professionals and police to first explore community-based crisis alternatives - like Mobile Crisis Intervention, Behavioral Health Urgent Care, or peer-run programs - before seeking involuntary hospitalization for individuals experiencing mental health crises. The bill mandates that if a community alternative exists and the person consents, professionals must arrange transport to that option instead of hospitalization. It also requires the state department to collect and annually report demographic data (including age, race, and diagnosis) on all involuntary hospitalization applications to legislative committees. This policy directly affects people in mental health crises and the clinicians/police officers who determine their care pathways.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnds unnecessary involuntary hospitalizations in mental health care, protecting patient rights and supporting appropriate treatment access per bill's focus on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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