H.R. 1906 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Agriculture, Mar 6, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryPrioritizes mental health services in rural areas
The bill focuses on behavioral and mental health treatment in rural communities by steering federal loan and grant money toward these services. It also renews funding programs through 2029 that support substance use disorder treatment, mental health education, and telemedicine (remote medical services) in rural areas. Specifically, it encourages loans and grants for building facilities that offer mental health care and allows those facilities to use telehealth technology to reach patients from a distance.
How it affects you
If you live in a rural area, this bill could make it easier to access mental health and substance use disorder treatment services, whether in person or through telemedicine. Rural healthcare providers and communities may have more federal funding available to develop these services and facilities. Most people in urban or suburban areas would not experience a direct change.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Mar 6, 2025)
Rural Wellness Act
This bill prioritizes behavioral and mental health treatment services under certain rural development grant and loan programs. The bill also reauthorizes through FY2029 the set-asides and prioritizations for substance use disorder treatment services under the Department of Agriculture's (1) Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program, (2) Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program, and (3) Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program.
Under the community facilities program, the bill prioritizes direct loans and grants for the development of behavioral and mental health services facilities, including facilities that provide treatment services. Further, loans and grants provided under the program may be used to develop facilities and systems to provide telehealth services for behavioral and mental health treatment.
Under the Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program, the bill prioritizes grants for behavioral and mental health education and treatment.
Under the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants Program, the bill includes a 17% set-aside for telemedicine projects that provide substance use disorder treatment services (currently a 20% set-aside).
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 1906
A BILL
Rural Wellness Act
Sponsor: Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) · Introduced Mar 6, 2025 · Agriculture and Food · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Mar 28, 2025: “Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.”