Bill · S. 779· Senate(119-S-779)
EARLY Minds Act
- Introduced
- 2/27/2025
- Last activity
- 2/27/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1430-1431)
- Sponsored by
- Alex Padilla
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 2
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The EARLY Minds Act seeks to amend title XIX of the Public Health Service Act. It aims to provide for prevention and early intervention services under the Block Grants for Community Mental Health Services program. States would be required to include descriptions of evidence-based prevention and early intervention strategies in their State plans. These strategies would focus on preventing, delaying, or reducing the severity of mental illness and behavioral problems. This includes services for children and adolescents, regardless of whether they experience a serious mental illness or serious emotional disturbance.
Yes· 3 of 6
Would children be better off under this?+8
The act provides specific provisions for mental health strategies for children and adolescents.
Does this make mental health care easier to get?+7
The bill facilitates early intervention and prevention services to reduce delays in access to mental health care.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+5
Increased Medicaid resources for mental health services provide essential support to low-income families.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Prevention and Early Intervention Support: The bill allows States to provide strategies and programs designed to prevent, delay, or reduce the severity and onset of mental illness and behavioral problems (Section 2(a)). This includes specific focus on children and adolescents (Section 2(a)).
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Targeted Assistance for Youth: The provisions include support for children and adolescents regardless of whether they have already experienced a serious mental illness or serious emotional disturbance (Section 2(a)).
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Data Driven Accountability: The Secretary is required to submit reports to Congress every two years that detail the outcomes of these activities, including how they reduced delays in access to care and the severity of onset for mental illness (Section 2(b)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Spending Limits on Specific Services: States are restricted to expending not more than 5 percent of their allotment for these prevention and early intervention strategies and programs (Section 2(b)).
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+8Good For Low Income Households+5Good For Young Adults+4
- Healthcare
- Improves Mental Health Access+7Increases Medicaid Funding+5
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+1
- 2/27/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1430-1431)
- 3 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.
Timothy KaineDemocrat · Virginia
Lisa MurkowskiRepublican · Alaska
Thomas TillisRepublican · North Carolina