Advocacy Alert: March 2025 Legislative News Round Up

April 4, 2025

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.

MS | Mississippi kratom advocates push for safety regulations
Shared 3/5/2025
Kratom is "an herbal substance collected from tropical trees native to Southeast Asia that can produce opioid- and stimulant-like effects," according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

State Policy Can Improve Suicide Prevention in Health Care Settings
Shared 3/7/2025
Promising policies highlighted in 4 U.S. states.

Twin bills in North Dakota, Minnesota legislatures would expand mental health care for probationers, parolees.
Shared 3/10/2025
Bills by Sen. Rob Kupec, D-Moorhead, and Sen. Tim Mathern, D-Fargo, seek to expand the states’ policies for using state health care benefits to pay for mental health care in neighboring states.

NJ | North Jersey Lawmaker Cheers New Sports Betting Tax Proposed by Governor Murphy
Shared 3/10/2025
The proposal also aims to direct additional funds toward programs that address gambling addiction.

NM | Bill that would increase alcohol tax in New Mexico passes first committee
Shared 3/11/2025
New Mexico has not seen an alcohol tax increase in more than thirty years.

ID | Idaho lawmakers look to 'go on offense' to limit possible drug legalization initiatives
Shared 3/12/2025
The legislation, if passed by a majority of voters in an upcoming election, would allow only the Legislature to legalize certain drugs, including marijuana, narcotics and other psychoactive substances.

ME | Maine advocates push bill to raise MaineCare reimbursement rates for detox services
Shared 3/12/2025
The bill's sponsor says, "Making medically managed withdrawal both accessible and sustainable is essential to supporting recovery."

Federal task force to combat fentanyl crisis introduced by Newhouse
Shared 3/13/2025
Rep. Dan Newhouse has introduced the Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics Act of 2025, aiming to establish a federal task force to tackle synthetic narcotic trafficking like fentanyl.

NH | New Hampshire legislators attempt to reduce the punishments around magic mushrooms
Shared 3/14/2025
After briefly considering legalizing the drug entirely for people 21 and older, a bipartisan group of New Hampshire lawmakers are trying to lessen the legal penalties for psilocybin, the recreational, hallucinogenic, and psychedelic drug commonly known as "magic mushrooms" or "shrooms."

SD | Lawmakers approve rollback of South Dakota's uniquely severe drug ingestion penalties
Shared 3/14/2025
The House of Representatives voted 37-33 on Thursday at the Capitol in Pierre to pass a bill that would, with Rhoden's signature, reduce the use of controlled substances from a felony to a misdemeanor for the first two offenses.

WA | Washington lawmakers push to expand mental health insurance coverage
Shared 3/19/2025
House Bill 1432 would require all insurers in Washington state to follow a single set of standards, recommended by doctors and publicly available, for covering mental health treatment.

MO | Missouri considers legalizing magic mushrooms for struggling veterans
Shared 3/19/2025
Rep. Richard West, R-Wentzville, is proposing to limit veterans to 150 milligrams over one year and the magic mushrooms would be given in a controlled environment, such as a medical clinic.

Difficult to see how right to recovery would be enforced, MSPs told
Shared 3/20/2025
Former Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross has proposed the Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill, which would mandate that those struggling with addiction be given the treatment recommended by a doctor.

OR | Oregon Governor Tina Kotek Champions $47.7M Bill to Strengthen Mental Health Workforce
Shared 3/20/2025
Advocating for Senate Bill 142, part of her 2025 Behavioral Health Initiative, the governor has underscored an urgent need to expand the state's mental health resources.

Lawmakers are pushing the HALT Fentanyl Act as the solution to the overdose crisis. Experts warn it will fall short
Shared 3/24/2025
The bill would increases penalties, but doesn't address addiction treatment.

GA | A new Georgia bill would add mandatory minimum sentences to fentanyl-related crimes and deaths
Shared 3/24/2025
If passed by the Georgia House, the Fentanyl Eradication and Removal Act could mean up to 35 years in prison and hundreds of thousands in fines for those possessing fentanyl.

NE | Nebraska Lawmakers Discuss Online Sports Betting Bill
Shared 3/26/2025
Nebraska online sports betting legislation was discussed in a committee hearing on March 10, currently bettors can only wager at retail locations in the state.

DEA Unfreezes Telehealth Buprenorphine Prescribing Reg, Delays Implementation
Shared 3/27/2025
On March 20, the agencies released the text of a final rule that pushed back the effective date of another final rule entitled "Expansion of Buprenorphine Treatment via Telemedicine Encounter" to the end of 2025.

MT | Faced with kratom bill, lawmakers pressured to 'get something passed'
Shared 3/27/2025
Small business owners and national lobbyists testified to the substance’s potential benefits, touting it as a pain relief alternative for users looking to avoid opioids or prescription drugs.

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.