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HB 870OHIOSession 136State Billin committee

Ohio creates mental health systems coordination and crisis prevention commission to study care gaps

Original title: Enact Mental Health Systems Coord., Crisis Prevention Comm. Act

Last action · May 20, 2026: Referred to HealthSponsors: Darnell Brewer and 5 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

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What This Bill Would Do

The Ohio General Assembly establishes the 20-member Ohio Mental Health Systems Coordination and Crisis Prevention Commission to study gaps in mental health care, service coordination, and crisis interventions, requiring a final report by December 31, 2027.

Why it matters

Establishes a temporary state commission tasked with issuing recommendations on cross-agency communication, risk assessment tools, and behavioral health workforce shortages by the end of 2027.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Behavioral health providers and associations

Providers are subject to Commission study regarding workforce needs, treatment access barriers, and coordinated care pilot programs.

Directly affected

State and county agencies

Agencies are evaluated regarding inter-agency communication failures and information sharing standards.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main purpose of the Ohio Mental Health Systems Coordination and Crisis Prevention Commission?

The Commission is established to study gaps in mental health care, service coordination, and crisis interventions, and to make recommendations to improve statewide prevention, response, and accountability.

Who serves on the Commission and how are they appointed?

The Commission consists of 20 members: seven voting members appointed by the President of the Senate, eight voting members appointed by the Speaker of the House, a voting representative appointed jointly by the Governor and the Director of RecoveryOhio, and four nonvoting state agency directors or their designees.

When does the Commission complete its work and dissolve?

The Commission must prepare and submit its report of findings and recommendations to the General Assembly not later than December 31, 2027, and ceases to exist upon submitting the report.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

2 actions

May 20, 2026HouseCommittee
Referred to Health
May 12, 2026HouseIntroduced
Introduced

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Connected Entities

Ohio Mental Health Systems Coordination and Crisis Prevention Commission, Medicaid Director, OhioMeansJobs and 12 more

OrganizationOhio Mental Health Systems Coordination and Crisis Prevention Commission“Commission established to study mental health care gaps and make recommendations”Map →

PersonMedicaid Director“Nonvoting member or appoints designee.”Map →

OrganizationOhioMeansJobs“Collaborator to assess workforce impacts and training needs.”Map →

PersonDirector of Developmental Disabilities“Nonvoting member or appoints designee.”Map →

OrganizationOhio Chamber of Commerce“Collaborator to assess the impact of mental health system failures on the workfo”Map →

OrganizationGovernor's Work Group on Competency Restoration and Diversion“Work group whose work the Commission shall take into consideration.”Map →

PersonDirector of Behavioral Health“Nonvoting member or appoints designee.”Map →

OrganizationRecoveryOhio“Initiative whose findings and recommendations are to be reviewed.”Map →

PersonSpeaker of the House of Representatives“Appoints eight voting members to the Commission.”Map →

OrganizationRecoveryOhio Advisory Council“Advisory body whose work is reviewed by the Commission.”Map →

OrganizationStepping Up Initiative“Initiative whose work the Commission shall take into consideration.”Map →

PersonPresident of the Senate“Appoints seven voting members to the Commission.”Map →

OrganizationDepartment of Children and Youth“State department involved in real-time information sharing systems.”Map →

PersonDirector of Children and Youth“Nonvoting member or appoints designee.”Map →

OrganizationOhioRISE Advisory Council“Council whose work the Commission shall take into consideration.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.legislature.ohio.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance45
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy10
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz25
Current news / social attention level

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