Urge your State Legislators to Increase 988 Funding in Maryland

As Marylanders continuously struggle to get the support they need, we must pass legislation that expands awareness and assistance for mental health services in Maryland. HB271/SB3 will help tackle this issue by increasing funding for the 988 Trust Fund to $12 million in fiscal year 2025.

Last year, Maryland established the 988 Trust Fund with an initial amount of $5.5 million available starting in fiscal year 2024 to develop and implement Maryland’s 988 system which will support state behavioral health crisis response services. These services include the coordination of crisis call centers, mobile crisis team services, crisis stabilization centers, and other acute behavioral health care services. 

While the initial funding set for fiscal year 2025 is an excellent start in supporting Maryland’s 988 initial infrastructure, it will take additional funding to maintain and maximize delivery on the state-wide initiative. By more than doubling the allocation for the 9-8-8 Trust Fund, the passage of HB271/SB3 will ensure our commitment to Maryland’s 9-8-8 system by allowing it to be better suited to handle rising call/text volume of people seeking crises services, as well as ensure individuals are connected to the services they need.

Building a stronger mental health system that provides the care, support, and services needed to help Marylanders build better lives is more important than ever.

As your constituent, I urge you to vote YES on HB271/SB3 and support critical 988 funding in Maryland.