U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) have introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at improving the efficiency of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The bill, known as the 988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act, seeks to enhance geolocation data use for routing calls and texts to local crisis centers.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has recently mandated that service providers route 988 calls to the nearest call center based on geographic location, rather than relying on a phone’s area code. In July, similar requirements were proposed for text messages. These changes address previous issues where calls and texts were sometimes sent to distant call centers due to mismatched area codes.
The new legislation would establish a multi-stakeholder advisory committee. This group would study policy, legal, technical, and financial challenges related to expanding geolocation data for 988 services. The goal is to help local call centers more efficiently dispatch emergency services when needed.
“The enactment of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has helped save lives in Wyoming and across the country. Our focus should always be on finding ways to provide timely and helpful resources for Americans when they need them the most,” said Senator Barrasso. “We need to build on the good work we’ve already done to modernize this vital lifeline. Our bipartisan bill will allow experts to study how we can expand geolocation data to help connect callers with local emergency services as quickly as possible.”
“The 988 hotline is a vital resource for New Mexicans facing mental health crises and has saved lives across the country. That’s why I’m introducing bipartisan legislation to make 988 more reliable and responsive for those in need,” said Senator Luján. “This bill is an important step in understanding how to further improve location information for 988 calls, so we can ensure people are connected with local resources and emergency services when necessary.”
The act is cosponsored by several senators from both parties: Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), James Risch (R-Idaho), and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.).
Supporters include the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials International (APCO). Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer of NAMI, stated: “Access to 988 has transformed the way our country supports people in a mental health crisis, but there’s still work to be done to meet everyone’s needs in an emergency. NAMI is grateful to Senators Barrasso and Lujan for their leadership and introduction of the 988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2025. This legislation will start the crucial task of examining the unique privacy and legal challenges associated with transmitting geolocation information from 988 while balancing help seekers’ privacy and how to provide timely access to needed care.”
Mel Maier, CEO and executive director of APCO International, added: “Accurate caller location continues to be one of the toughest challenges for public safety, and it directly affects how quickly we can help someone in crisis. By working together to solve this, and with the leadership of Senators Lujan and Barrasso in introducing this bill, we strengthen every link in the public safety chain. Lives depend on getting it right.”
The full text of the legislation is available online.
