Democratic Senators Tina Smith of Minnesota and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire and Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski reintroduced a bill aimed at strengthening the mental health workforce, according to a Feb. 24 news release.

New legislation in Georgia would expand a state loan forgiveness program for mental health providers, the Georgia Virtue reported Feb. 24. 

Fort Behavioral Health will be allowed to reopen 30 days after Texas abruptly shut it down over child safety risks, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported Feb. 23.

New legislation in Colorado would offer annual mental health check-ins at public schools for students in sixth through 12th grade, CBS affiliate KKTV reported Feb. 23. 

Easterseals DC MD VA has secured $900,000 through the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill to develop a community behavioral health clinic for patients in Prince George's County, Md.

West Virginia lawmakers have introduced a bill that aims to protect residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities from abuse and neglect in behavioral health facilities in the state, according to a Feb. 22 report from the Parkersburg News and Sentinel.

Maryland lawmakers have introduced a package of seven bills to address mental health in the state, according to a Feb. 20 report from WTOP News.

On the heels of mental healthcare budget increases in states including New York and South Dakota, Maryland legislators have proposed bills to improve the state's behavioral healthcare services, Maryland Matters reported Feb. 20.

A proposed bill aims to allow cities in Colorado to open overdose prevention and supervised injection sites, according to a Feb. 19 report from ABC 7 Denver.

Tamra Williams, PhD, has been selected to lead the department of health and human services for Montgomery County, Pa.

A bipartisan group of senators sent an open letter to the Department of Health and Human Services Feb. 14, asking the agency to adjust a proposed addiction treatment privacy rule intended to prevent opioids from being prescribed to patients in recovery.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services launched a registry to help lower wait times for behavioral healthcare beds in the state.

Mental Health America is in support of President Biden's plans to address the nation's mental health and substance abuse crisis, part of his "unity agenda" mentioned in his State of the Union speech Feb. 7. 

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul outlined her more than $1 billion, multiyear initiative to overhaul the state's "strained" and "suffering" mental healthcare system.

The Oregon Health Authority has received federal approval to increase Medicaid behavioral health services reimbursement paid through coordinated care organizations. 

Maine legislators have proposed a behavioral health investment that will put $237 million into mental healthcare services every other year. 

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul outlined a $1 billion plan to overhaul mental healthcare across the state, according to a Jan. 9 news release from her office.