H.R. 5725 — Mental Health Crisis Response Act of 2025

This section establishes a competitive grant program, to be administered by the Attorney General in partnership with the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use not later than 270 days after enactment, for state, tribal, and local governments that manage emergency services (including law enforcement and emergency medical services) to implement or expand health-centered crisis response strategies for behavioral health emergencies. Grants may be used to (1) embed mental health professionals into 911 dispatch and call triage systems, (2) develop alternative 911 call routing to 988 or other mental health or substance use crisis hotlines, and (3) form partnerships between emergency services and 911 centers for streamlined handoffs; grantees must submit annual reports on response times, use of force, diversion rates, and other metrics requested; and $25 million is authorized for each of FY2027 through FY2031. This section specifies that it does not require removal of law enforcement from emergency responses or preempt state laws on involuntary psychiatric holds or related public safety authorities.