H.R. 3505: Barriers to Suicide Act of 2025

This bill, known as the Barriers to Suicide Act of 2025, aims to address suicide prevention through the installation of protective measures on certain structures. Here’s what it proposes:

Grant Program

The Secretary of Transportation is required to establish a grant program within one year of the legislation's enactment. This program will provide funding specifically for the installation of evidence-based suicide deterrents at key locations, which include:

• Bridges
• Buildings
• Parking garages
• Highway-rail grade crossings
• Rail stations

The types of deterrents eligible for funding include:

• Suicide prevention nets
• Suicide prevention barriers
• Any other evidence-based strategies that are deemed appropriate by the Secretary

Eligible Recipients

Grants can be awarded to:

• States or political subdivisions of a state
• Other entities as determined eligible by the Secretary

Application Process

Eligible entities must submit applications to the Secretary, following the procedures specified for grant requests. This includes detailing the project and its intended location.

Prioritization and Funding

When granting funds, priority will be given to projects in areas with high suicide rates. The federal share of the project cost may not exceed 80%, ensuring local and state funding contributes to these efforts.

Authorization and Appropriations

The bill authorizes the appropriation of $10 million each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030 to support this program.

Research Component

The legislation mandates a study by the Comptroller General of the United States to evaluate:

• Structures apart from bridges that have high incidences of suicide attempts by jumping
• Factors that differentiate these structures from similar ones that do not have such incidents
• Effective types of nets and barriers that can assist in reducing these attempts
• Alternative methods beyond nets and barriers
• Quantitative measures for assessing the effectiveness of proposed solutions
• Information on typical installation entities for these deterrents
• Costs associated with implementing these solutions

The Comptroller General must submit the findings of this study to various committees within one year of the bill's enactment.

Amendment to Title 23

The bill also amends existing transportation legislation to include references to the installation of safety barriers and nets on bridges as part of the National Highway System, thereby integrating mental health considerations into infrastructure planning.

Relevant Companies

None found.