SSB 5762
In CommitteeSenate
988 crisis hotline
Concerning 988 crisis hotline funding and technology requirements.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill raises the existing 988 crisis lifeline tax on phone service lines to generate more funding for behavioral health crisis response services, including the 988 hotline, crisis centers, and mobile crisis teams. It increases the tax from 40 cents to 80 cents per line by 2027, with all revenue dedicated to expanding crisis care access across Washington.
- Increases the 988 behavioral health crisis response tax on phone lines (mobile, landline, VoIP, and switched access) from 40 cents to 60 cents per line on July 1, 2026, and to 80 cents per line on July 1, 2027.
- Requires telecom companies to collect and remit the tax to the state, with all proceeds deposited into a dedicated statewide 988 behavioral health crisis response and suicide prevention line account.
- Mandates that funds be used primarily to support the 988 crisis hotline, including staffing and operating crisis hotline centers and designated 988 contact hubs.
- Allocates 10% of annual tax revenue to support mobile rapid response crisis teams and community-based crisis teams, with up to 30% of that portion reserved for tribal-affiliated teams.
- Prohibits the use of tax funds to replace existing general fund or Medicaid funding for behavioral health services.
Who is affected
- Phone service subscribers (including mobile, landline, and VoIP users) — Residents who use mobile, landline, or VoIP phone services may see a small monthly fee added to their phone bill starting in 2023, increasing over time to 80 cents per line by 2027.
- Telecommunications service providers — Wireless and telecom companies (including resellers and prepaid service providers) must collect and remit the tax to the state.
- Individuals experiencing behavioral health or suicide-related crises — People in behavioral health crisis who use or may need to call the 988 lifeline benefit from improved access to crisis response, mobile crisis teams, and local crisis centers.
- Tribally affiliated crisis response programs — Tribal nations with mobile or community-based crisis teams may receive up to 30% of 10% of annual tax revenue to support culturally specific crisis services.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (3)
Dedicates new, dedicated revenue to expand 988 crisis hotline capacity, staffing, and mobile crisis teams — directly improving access for people in acute behavioral health or suicide crises, who are disproportionately low-income, unhoused, or uninsured. This addresses a critical gap in Washington’s mental health system and reduces reliance on ERs and law enforcement, improving outcomes for vulnerable populations.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 3(2)(a) and Sec. 3(2)(b)Expanding mobile crisis teams and crisis centers reduces inappropriate police responses to behavioral health emergencies — a well-documented source of harm, especially for people of color and those with disabilities. This aligns with national best practices and reduces strain on law enforcement, improving public safety for everyday Washingtonians.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 3(2)(b) and Sec. 2(1)(a)(ii)(D)–(C)Explicitly funds culturally specific crisis response for tribal communities, supporting sovereignty and self-determination in behavioral health care. This addresses long-standing gaps in access and trust in state-run services among Native populations, improving equity and outcomes for Indigenous Washingtonians.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 3(2)(b): “up to 30 percent of [10%]… reserved for tribal-affiliated teams”
Potential Concerns (3)
Increases monthly phone service costs by up to 80 cents per line starting in 2027 — effectively a regressive tax that adds $9.60/year per line, disproportionately affecting low-income households, seniors on fixed incomes, and households with multiple lines (e.g., landline + mobile + VoIP). While modest per line, cumulative impact is significant for households with 2–3 lines, which represent a large share of lower-income and rural residents.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(a)(ii)(D) and Sec. 2(2)(b)(d); Sec. 2(3)(b)(d)The anti-supplanting clause risks locking in current underfunding of behavioral health services — if existing general fund or Medicaid funding is cut elsewhere, this bill does not allow the 988 tax revenue to fill the gap, potentially worsening service gaps rather than expanding net capacity. This constraint reduces the bill’s ability to improve overall system-wide access, especially for Medicaid-enrolled individuals who rely on public behavioral health infrastructure.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 3(3): “Moneys in the account may not be used to supplant general fund appropriations for behavioral health services or for medicaid covered services…”The 10% set-aside for mobile crisis teams, with 30% of that (i.e., 3% of total revenue) reserved for tribal-affiliated programs, may limit scalability and flexibility for non-tribal rural or suburban communities where crisis response infrastructure is also under-resourced. While well-intentioned, the fixed allocation may reduce overall program agility and delay expansion in non-tribal jurisdictions with high unmet need.
Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 3(2)(b): “Ten percent of the annual receipts… up to 30 percent of which is dedicated to tribal-affiliated teams”
Who Is Most Affected
Low- and moderate-income phone subscribers — especially those with multiple lines (e.g., landline + mobile + VoIP) — will see a direct, recurring cost increase of up to $9.60/year per line. This burden is regressive, as phone service is a necessity and low-income households spend a higher share of income on it.
People in behavioral health crisis — including those experiencing homelessness, substance use disorders, or acute psychiatric episodes — gain significantly improved access to non-law-enforcement crisis response, reducing hospitalizations, arrests, and fatalities.
Tribal nations and tribal-affiliated programs gain dedicated, flexible funding to build culturally grounded crisis response systems, supporting self-determination and addressing historical underinvestment in Native mental health services.
Telecom companies face increased compliance and collection responsibilities, but the tax is passed through to consumers and does not directly reduce their revenues. The administrative burden is modest relative to overall operations.
State and local governments benefit from reduced demand on emergency services (ERs, law enforcement, jails) for behavioral health crises, freeing resources and reducing costs — but are constrained by the anti-supplanting rule from using new funds to offset prior underfunding.