Rural Mental Health: Priority for Development Grants
A house committee must act next: committee consideration.
The bill has bipartisan support and addresses a high-priority issue for rural districts, but it is still in the early stages of the committee process.
Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
The bill extends a dedicated substance use disorder funding set-aside under rural development programs from 2025 through 2029, continuing a guaranteed pool of money for addiction treatment infrastructure in rural areas. It also adjusts the required set-aside percentage from 20 percent to 17 percent, slightly reducing the guaranteed share while broadening priority to include general behavioral health projects too.
“by striking ``2025'' and inserting ``2029'”
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Representatives Dave Taylor, Nikki Budzinski, Brad Finstad, and Don Davis reintroduced the Rural Wellness Act on March 6, 2025. The bill mandates the USDA prioritize behavioral and mental health services in rural development programs and extends substance abuse set-asides through 2028.
On March 6, 2025, Representative Nikki Budzinski introduced the Rural Wellness Act (H.R. 1906) to prioritize projects providing behavioral and mental health treatment in rural development programs and extend the substance abuse disorder set-aside through 2029.
The House of Representatives passed H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026. The legislation reauthorizes vital USDA programs and includes bipartisan priorities aimed at strengthening the rural backbone, including mental health and infrastructure support.
No votes or related bills recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Rural Wellness Act
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