Barriers to Suicide Act

Summary#

This bill directs the Secretary of Transportation to set up a competitive grant program to help pay for installing evidence-based suicide deterrents, such as suicide prevention nets and barriers, at certain places. Covered locations include bridges, buildings, parking garages, highway-rail grade crossings, and rail stations. The Secretary must create the program within 1 year of enactment and may make grants to States, political subdivisions, and other eligible entities. The Secretary will give priority to projects in areas with high suicide rates. The federal share of a project may not exceed 80 percent. The bill authorizes $10,000,000 per year for each fiscal year 2026 through 2030 to carry out the program.

The bill also amends title 23 of the U.S. Code to explicitly include installation of safety barriers and nets on bridges of the National Highway System. Finally, the Comptroller General must study the effectiveness and costs of suicide prevention nets and barriers for structures other than bridges, and report to several congressional committees within 1 year.

What it means for you#

  • If you are a State, local government, federally recognized Indian Tribe, or another eligible entity, you could apply for competitive grants to install suicide deterrents at covered locations.
  • Projects that install suicide prevention nets, barriers, or other evidence-based deterrents at bridges, buildings, parking garages, rail stations, or highway-rail crossings may be eligible.
  • Projects in areas with higher suicide rates may receive priority. The federal grant can pay up to 80% of a project’s cost; the remainder must come from nonfederal sources or other partners.
  • The bill requires a federal study on which non-bridge structures attract suicide attempts and which deterrents work, including cost information.

Expenses#

  • The bill authorizes $10,000,000 in annual appropriations for each fiscal year 2026 through 2030 to carry out the grant program.
  • The federal share of any project paid with a grant may not exceed 80 percent.
  • No publicly available information on total expected program costs beyond the authorized appropriations, or on specific project cost estimates, is included in the bill text.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.