Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Creates the Mental Health Licensure Portability Program at HRSA to award grants to interstate compact commissions or State licensure boards. Grants will incentivize counselors to practice in States participating in occupational licensure interstate compacts and support development, operation, or maintenance of interstate compact commissions.
Adequacy of funding: liberals want more; conservatives note cost concerns
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill authorizes and briefly defines a new HRSA grant program and provides a four‑year funding authorization.
Creates the Mental Health Licensure Portability Program at HRSA to award grants to interstate compact commissions or State licensure boards.
Grants will incentivize counselors to practice in States participating in occupational licensure interstate compacts and support development, operation, or maintenance of interstate compact commissions.
The bill requires program establishment within 90 days and authorizes $4 million annually for FY2026–2029.
Modest, noncontroversial program with limited cost improves chances, but still requires committee approval, floor time, and appropriations.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill authorizes and briefly defines a new HRSA grant program and provides a four‑year funding authorization. It establishes core terms and assigns administrative responsibility but omits detailed grant mechanisms, eligibility prioritization beyond a basic definition, accountability measures, and safeguards.
Adequacy of funding: liberals want more; conservatives note cost concerns
These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.
Adequacy of funding: liberals want more; conservatives note cost concerns
Likely broadly supportive because the bill aims to expand access to credentialed mental health professionals and reduce workforce barriers.
Sees interstate compacts as a practical way to increase care availability, including telehealth, for underserved communities.
May press for stronger funding, equity measures, and consumer protections.
Generally favorable with caveats: sees practical value in lowering licensure barriers to expand supply but notes limited funding and few implementation details.
Wants clear accountability, performance metrics, and respect for state regulatory authority.
Likely to support if oversight and measurable outcomes are added.
Mixed to somewhat skeptical: the bill advances licensure portability and workforce flexibility — positives — but creates a new federal grant program that may steer state policy.
Concerns include federal fiscal involvement, potential erosion of state licensure standards, and administrative expansion.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Modest, noncontroversial program with limited cost improves chances, but still requires committee approval, floor time, and appropriations.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Adequacy of funding: liberals want more; conservatives note cost concerns
Modest, noncontroversial program with limited cost improves chances, but still requires committee approval, floor time, and appropriations.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill authorizes and briefly defines a new HRSA grant program and provides a four‑year funding authorization. It establishes core terms and assigns administrative responsib…
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