Schools must print suicide hotline numbers on student ID cards

What it does

This bill requires public schools that issue student ID cards to print contact information for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, Crisis Text Line, and state/local suicide prevention hotlines on those cards. Schools without ID cards must post the same information on their websites and student portals. The bill takes effect one year after enactment and allows schools flexibility in how they display the information (printed, sticker, etc.).

Why we flagged it

The bill's sole operative mechanism is a mandate that schools include crisis hotline contact information on student ID cards and digital platforms. It is a straightforward public health intervention with no regulatory carve-outs, subsidies, or private beneficiaries.

What the text implies

• Schools may face minor administrative costs to update ID card printing processes or website templates, though the bill does not appropriate federal funds to offset these costs.
• The bill's effectiveness depends on student awareness and willingness to use the resources; printing a number does not guarantee utilization or outcome improvement.
• Secretary of Education gains discretion to designate alternative crisis services if 988 or Crisis Text Line become unavailable, creating a potential bottleneck if services change rapidly.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

The bill places life-saving mental health crisis resources directly in students' hands via ID cards and school websites at no cost to families. It creates no new restrictions on citizens, no liability shields, and no private carve-outs — it is a straightforward public health measure that increases access to suicide prevention services for a vulnerable population.

Named in the bill

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, Crisis Text Line, U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Local Educational Agencies, Secondary Schools

Where it stands

9 cosponsors: 6 Democrats, 3 Republicans.

• Jan 15, 2026 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Jan 15, 2026 — Referred to House Committee on Education and Workforce · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

2 lobbying clients named this bill on 2 disclosure filings across 1 quarter, Jun 2026 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $89,067 in lobbying spend. A filing names 50 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 41% of bills with at least one filing.

Troy Carter, the sponsor, reported $1,021,748 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• Inseparable Action Inc. — $60,000 on 1 filing
• National League for Nursing — $29,067 on 1 filing

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 22, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.