Current Advocacy/Issues

FY2027 Campaign

The Behavioral Health Budget Must Reflect New Jersey Values & Needs

To see sponsors, last action, or access the bill text, click on the bill number link. To search any other state legislation by bill number, title, sponsor or key word, go here.

A3442 - Establishes annual cost of living adjustment based on Consumer Price Index for certain children, youth, and family services organizations. 

S144/A3625 - Exempts certain motor vehicles that are owned by certain nutrition programs and certain nonprofit organizations that offer social services from motor vehicle registration fees.

S1646/A3575 - Requires State to take steps to create additional graduate medical education program slots focused on behavioral health care.

S2123/A3577 - Requires issuance of report on certain information and data on processing of applications for professional and occupational licenses and mandates review of training and call intake in Division of Consumer Affairs.

S2644/A2327 - Increases FY2026 annual appropriation to DCF by $16.7 million to increase NJ FamilyCare monthly reimbursement rate paid to care management organizations.

S2996/A4052 - Eliminates certain practice restrictions for advanced practice nurses.

S3000/A3576 - Codifies and extends authorization for certain out-of-State health care practitioners and recent graduates of health care training programs to practice in New Jersey.

S3013/A1007 - Establishes telecommunication fee to support Statewide behavioral health crisis system of care.

S3802/A4265 - Requires Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain primary and mental health care services match reimbursement rates under Medicare.

S3947/A4357 - Extends permanently certain pay parity regarding telemedicine and telehealth.

FY2026 Federal Budget

Overall, many mental health and substance use programs saw level or slightly increased funding. The Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies agreement also extends Medicare telehealth flexibilities through the end of 2027, including delay of in-person requirements for Medicare mental health telehealth services.

Total SAMHSA funding was $7.4 billion, similar to FY24, which last saw appropriations bills. FY25 used a continuing resolution instead. 



Here is the National Council's comparison of the FY26 and FY24 federal budgets. 

FY2026 Federal Legislation

H.R.957 - To provide for civil monetary penalties for violations of mental health parity requirements.

H.R.4206/S.1261 - To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand access to telehealth services, and for other purposes.

H.R.5269 - To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide long-term stability for Medicare beneficiary access to clinical diagnostic laboratory tests by improving the accuracy of, and feasibility of data collection for, the private payor-based fee schedule payment rates applied under the Medicare program for such tests, and for other purposes.

H.R.7961 - To exempt H-1B health care workers from the restriction under the Presidential Proclamation entitled "Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers", and for other purposes.

S.3402/H.R.8487 - To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act and the Public Health Service Act to improve the certified community behavioral health clinic program, and for other purposes.