S 414 United States Senate · 119th Congress

ADS for Mental Health Services Act

S 414, the ADS for Mental Health Services Act, requires major social media platforms and search engines (with over 100 million monthly users) to annually report to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on public service advertisements promoting mental, behavioral, or physical health resources. The reports must detail the number and value of such ads, including those highlighting free local services or addressing issues like suicide prevention, addiction, or social isolation. The FTC must then summarize this data for Congress annually, without altering existing privacy or data security laws. This bill directly affects large digital platforms by mandating transparency about health-focused public service advertising.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Jun 2025

Senate Passage

Dec 2025

House Passage

President

Introduced Feb 5, 2025 Last action Dec 10, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced in Senate → Engrossed in Senate · 8 edits · Dec 9, 2025

MODERATE

The engrossed version significantly narrows the bill's scope by removing 'physical health' from all references, limiting coverage to mental and behavioral health only. It also redefines 'covered digital advertising platform' to require that the platform's primary function be a community forum for user-generated content, which would exclude search engines and other non-forum platforms. A 5-year sunset provision was added, meaning all requirements terminate automatically.

SCOPE

Removed 'physical health care resources' from all reporting categories and the definition of public service advertisement. The bill now only covers mental and behavioral health, not physical health.

DEFINITION

Redefined 'covered digital advertising platform' to require that the platform's primary function be a community forum for user-generated content (messages, videos, audio) intended for viewing, resharing, or social endorsement. Removed 'search engine' from the list and added 'mobile application.' Changed 'sells digital advertising space' to 'derives revenue from advertising.'

Changed 'unique monthly users' to 'unique monthly users or visitors,' broadening who counts toward the 100 million threshold.

Added a new definition of 'user' as an individual who registers an account or creates a profile on the platform.

Changed the public service advertisement definition from 'displays' to 'electronically serves to a user over the internet,' and changed 'State, local, or regional' to just 'local or regional' (removing State-level resources).

Changed 'other matters that pose a risk to physical and mental health' to 'similar matters that cause harm to physical and mental health,' and changed 'patterns of addiction-like behaviors' to 'patterns of behavioral addiction.'

TIMELINE

Added a sunset provision: all requirements, responsibilities, and obligations under the Act terminate 5 years after enactment.

Added a specific reporting deadline: first report due no later than 1 year after enactment, then annually thereafter.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Dec 9, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8581-8582; text: CR S8581-8582)

upper

Dec 9, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

upper

Jun 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-32.

upper

Mar 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Committee

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor