Advocacy Alert: February 2026 Legislative News Round Up

March 5, 2026

For those of you who follow us on social media know, we post news stories on a daily basis that are connected to the behavioral health and addiction treatment industry.

Many of these are news stories regarding legislation, so once a month we send out a 'news roundup' of related news stories we've posted. Unless otherwise stated, NBHAP has no official stance on any of these stories: the intention is to share so that we're all better informed as to what's happening in the legislative world.

A reminder that NBHAP members get access to a monthly update with our advocate in Washington, DC, to find out what is going on and ask any questions you may have. Feel free to contact us for more information on that.

VA | Fairfax Community Services Board head to lead Virginia’s behavioral health department
Shared 2/2/2026
One of 40 boards required by state law to be established in every Virginia jurisdiction, the Fairfax-Falls Church CSB provides mental health, substance use treatment and developmental disability services to both adults and youth in Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church.

NH | New Hampshire could expand access to psilocybin
Shared 2/2/2026
New Hampshire bills represent the growing shift from psilocybin criminalization to sensible regulation grounded in public health and harm reduction.

Veterans could get overdose reversal meds without a prescription under proposed law
Shared 2/11/2026
A bipartisan bill would give veterans access to overdose reversal medications without a prescription.

Sen. Jeff Merkley Introduces Legislation to Expand Naloxone Access
Shared 2/12/2026
The bill is designed to ensure workplaces are prepared to respond in the event of an overdose emergency.

IL | Illinois bills could increase access for mental health crisis care, substance use treatment
Shared 2/12/2026
The General Assembly has passed several massive mental healthcare plans in recent years, but people still struggle to get help during a mental health crisis.

Balint co-sponsors the Mental Health Career Promotion Act
Shared 2/17/2026
The bill would create the Behavioral and Mental Health Career Promotion Grant Program, administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), to provide funding to schools to establish mental health career promotion programs for high school and community college students.

WI | Lawmakers approve $10M for western Wisconsin mental health and treatment facility
Shared 2/17/2026
Funding comes 2 years after Hospital Sisters Health System exited region, closing hospitals, clinics and regions only inpatient addiction treatment center.

ID | Budget cut fallout: After Idaho cut a critical Medicaid mental health service, two patients died
Shared 2/17/2026
Republican Idaho lawmaker Rep. Ben Fuhriman wants to reinstate the Assertive Community Treatment program.

KS | Kansas House advances bill requiring Narcan in all public schools
Shared 2/24/2026
The Kansas House of Representatives passed the bill to help reduce opioid overdoses across the state.

MS | Department of Mental Health asks for more oversight for others and less for itself
Shared 2/26/2026
When Department of Mental Health Executive Director Wendy Bailey discussed a Mississippi bill to require audits for community mental health centers in January in the Senate Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency committee, she told lawmakers the performance audits would help them learn more about the health needs of the state.

Feds extend a telehealth rule that could help save more people from opioid overdoses
Shared 2/27/2026
The rule removes the in-person visit requirement for providers to prescribe a medication to treat opioid substance use disorders, which experts say could help save lives and reduce public health costs long-term.

Questions? Concerns?

As always, we want your input.

A reminder that NBHAP members get regular access to our advocate in Washington, DC. If you have any questions about NBHAP's advocacy efforts, please contact us.