AB 1540 California 20252026 session
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: LGBTQ+ youth.
Existing federal law, the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, designates the 3-digit telephone number "988" as the universal number within the United States for the purpose of the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system operating through the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Existing law, the Miles Hall Lifeline and Suicide Prevention Act, requires, among other things, the Office of Emergency Services (OES) to verify that technology that allows for transfers between 988 centers, as well as between 988 centers and 911 public safety answering points, is available to 988 centers and 911 public safety answering points throughout the state, to appoint a 988 system director, and to verify interoperability between and across 911 and 988. Existing law establishes the 988 State Suicide and Behavioral Health Crisis Services Fund and provides that 988 surcharge revenue in the fund is available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of the act. This bill would require the California Health and Human Services Agency (agency) to annually determine whether an adequate specialized LGBTQ+ suicide prevention hotline is activated by the federal government under 988 and would make implementation of this bill contingent on the agency's determination, as specified. The bill would require OES to, no later than 6 months after the agency's determination, request the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to enable a press 3 function for calls originating in the State of California to allow callers to dial 988 and press "3" to be automatically routed to a specialized call center. The bill would require OES to, no later than 12 months following the approval by SAMHSA, ensure that the specified technologies are available. This bill would require, no later than 12 months following approval by SAMHSA, the agency to identify and contract with a qualified entity or entities that specialize in LGBTQ+ suicide prevention services. The bill would require the agency to determine the eligibility criteria, establish an application process, and administer funds to the qualified entity, as specified. The bill would require a qualified entity to comply with various requirements, including having a primary objective of reducing suicide rates or addressing mental health crises. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Status
- Introduced
- Committee
- Floor vote
- Passed
- Enacted
Passed one chamber — last recorded action August 13, 2026
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
Recorded votes
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
10 yes · 0 no · pass July 1, 2026
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Health]
7 yes · 1 no · pass June 23, 2026
AB 1540 Mark González Third Reading Urgency
64 yes · 8 no · pass May 27, 2026
Passage likelihood
95% Higher than most bills at this stage
This is an estimate, not a guarantee. It is computed from the signals listed below and nothing else. It does not account for leadership priorities, floor scheduling, or negotiations that are not in the public record.
What the estimate is based on
- Historical base rate About 20% of introduced state bills are enacted.
- Current stage Passed one chamber.
- Cosponsors 22 cosponsors.
State-level impact
State-level impact data is not available for this bill. The source text does not contain a per-state funding formula or scored breakdown, so no figures are shown.
Official actions
- Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
- From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 1.) (August 13).
- In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
- From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
- From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. (Ayes 7. Noes 1.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
- From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on E.M.
- Referred to Coms. on E.M. and HEALTH.
- In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
- Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 64. Noes 8.).
- Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
- From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 1.) (May 14).
- In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
- From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
- Coauthors revised.
- Re-referred to Com. on C. & C.
- Read second time and amended.
- From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on C. & C. (Ayes 12. Noes 3.) (March 17).
- Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
- From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.
- Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and C. & C.
- From printer. May be heard in committee February 5.
- Read first time. To print.