Bill · S. 3199· Senate(119-S-3199)
988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 11/19/2025
- Last activity
- 5/12/2026 — Held at the desk.
- Sponsored by
- John Barrasso
- Cosponsors
- - 6 - 6
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Awaiting House
What this bill would do
This Act, known as the ``988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2026'', directs the Federal Communications Commission to start a notice of inquiry regarding the transmission of geolocation information during calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. It also instructs the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study and submit a report with recommendations on the challenges and opportunities of implementing geolocation. The investigation looks into legal authorities, consumer privacy, and technical implementation standards. Furthermore, the bill requires an assessment of costs and funding for various service providers and crisis centers. The GAO is tasked with consulting a wide range of stakeholders, including telecommunications and emergency service providers, during this study.
Yes· 3 of 5
Does this make mental health care easier to get?+5
The bill aims to improve crisis response by addressing geolocation challenges for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?+4
The bill specifically addresses technical challenges for people who use video relay services for American Sign Language.
Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities?+4
The bill directs the FCC to consider technical challenges for users accessing the 988 line via American Sign Language video services.
The opposite
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?-2
The bill notes that mandating geolocation transmission raises significant questions regarding the protection of consumer privacy.
Does this make it easier to run a small business?-1
The bill identifies potential cost recovery and funding requirements that may impact service providers.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Improved Crisis Response: By addressing the challenges of transmitting geolocation and dispatchable location information, the bill aims to improve the ability to identify where a caller is located when contacting the sui-cide and crisis lifeline (Section 3).
-
Enhanced Accessibility for Deaf or Hard of Hearing Users: The bill directs the FCC to consider technical challenges specifically for those using the 988 American Sign Language line via direct video calling and video relay service (Section 3, subsection b, 5).
-
Comprehensive Stakeholder Input: The GAO is required to consult with various groups, including mental health services organizations, the Veterans Crisis Line, and individuals with experience providing services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, to ensure the study reflects diverse needs (Section 4, subsection b).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Consumer Privacy Risks: The bill identifies that mandating the transmission of geolocation and dispatchable location information raises significant questions regarding the protection of consumer privacy (Section 3, subsection b, 2; Section 4, subsection a, 1).
-
Financial Burdens: There is a potential for increased costs and specific funding requirements for telecommunications service providers, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the Veterans Crisis Line, and local crisis centers (Section 3, subsection b, 4; Section 4, subsection a, 3).
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 People With Disabilities+4Good For Veterans+3
- Healthcare
- Improves Mental Health Access+5
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Disability Rights+4
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Privacy Rights-2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support-1
- 5/12/2026
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Held at the desk.
- Received in the House.
- 5/11/2026
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
- Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2204-2205; text: CR S2204-2205)
- 4/22/2026
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 119-119.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 379.
- 2/12/2026
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 12/16/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 11/19/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text: CR S8241-8242)
- 11 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Marsha BlackburnRepublican · Tennessee
Mike CrapoRepublican · Idaho
Shelley CapitoRepublican · West Virginia
Steve DainesRepublican · Montana
Deb FischerRepublican · Nebraska
Kirsten GillibrandDemocrat · New York
Maggie HassanDemocrat · New Hampshire
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
Ben LujánDemocrat · New Mexico
Jon OssoffDemocrat · Georgia
James RischRepublican · Idaho
Raphael WarnockDemocrat · Georgia