Bill · S. 1673· Senate(119-S-1673)
Mental Health Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 5/8/2025
- Last activity
- 5/8/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Sponsored by
- Jeff Merkley
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Mental Health Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2025 authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide loans and loan guarantees to various eligible entities. These funds are intended for planning, constructing, or renovating mental health and substance use disorder treatment facilities. The bill also allows for improving digital infrastructure, telehealth capabilities, or adding inpatient beds. Preference will be given to projects that increase bed capacity in high-need areas or serve rural communities. Additionally, at least 25 percent of these funds must be set aside for facilities serving pediatric and adolescent populations. Total funding is capped at $200,000,000 for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030.
Yes· 3 of 10
Would children be better off under this?+9
The bill mandates that at least 25 percent of funds be allocated for facilities serving pediatric and adolescent populations.
Does this make mental health care easier to get?+8
The bill funds the construction, renovation, and expansion of psychiatric and substance use disorder treatment facilities.
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+7
The bill provides preference for projects serving high-need rural communities.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Treatment Capacity: The bill allows for constructing, renovating, or adding inpatient beds, which helps increase the availability of psychiatric and substance use disorder services (Section 2, subsection a).
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Support for Underserved Areas: The Secretary is directed to give preference to entities that increase bed capacity in counties with insufficient treatment capacity or provide services in high-need rural and underresourced communities (Section 2, subsection b).
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Focus on Youth: A specific set-aside ensures that at least 25 percent of the funds are dedicated to facilities that primarily serve pediatric and adolescent populations (Section 2, subsection c).
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Improved Technology Access: The authorization includes funds for improving digital infrastructure and telehealth capabilities at treatment facilities (Section 2, subsection a).
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Integrated Care Options: Preference is given to facilities capable of providing integrated or specialized care for complex cases or patients with medical co-morbidities (Section 2, subsection b).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Financial Risk for Borrowers: The Secretary is prohibited from making a loan guarantee if the loan is subordinated to other debt or claims, which may limit financing options for certain entities (Section 2, subsection d, paragraph 4).
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Strict Repayment Requirements: The Secretary can only provide credit where there is a "reasonable assurance of repayment," which could limit help to entities deemed higher risk (Section 2, subsection d, paragraph 11).
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Limited Refinancing Window: The ability to use these funds to refinance existing loans is limited to a specific 48-month window centered around the date of enactment (Section 2, subsection e).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Children+9Good For Rural Residents+7Good For Low Income Households+5Good For Veterans+5
- Healthcare
- Improves Mental Health Access+8Improves Healthcare Access+6
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+6
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support+5
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+4
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+2
- 5/8/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Cindy Hyde-SmithRepublican · Mississippi