Current status is Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3505

1. Short title
2. Grant program
3. Title 23 amendment
4. Study on effectiveness of suicide prevention nets and barriers for structures other than bridges

1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the "Barriers to Suicide Act of 2025".

2. Grant program

(a) In general - Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall establish a program (in this section referred to as the "Program") to facilitate the installation of evidence-based suicide deterrents, including suicide prevention nets and barriers, on or at a covered location.

(b) Grant authority - In carrying out the Program, the Secretary may make grants on a competitive basis in accordance with this section.

(1) - a State or a political subdivision of a State; and

(2) - any other entity the Secretary determines to be eligible.

(d) Applications - To be eligible for a grant under the Program, an entity described in subsection (c) shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary determines appropriate.

(e) Eligible projects - The Secretary may make a grant under the Program only for a project that facilitates the installation on or at a covered location of—

(1) - a suicide prevention net;

(2) - a suicide prevention barrier; or

(3) - any other evidence-based suicide deterrent that is determined by the Secretary to be appropriate.

(f) Priority - In making a grant under the Program, the Secretary shall give priority to a project located in an area with a high rate of suicide, taking into consideration the number of suicides and rate of suicides per capita in an area, or other priority characteristics, as determined by the Secretary.

(g) Federal share - The Federal share of the cost of a project assisted with a grant under the Program may not exceed 80 percent.

(h) Definitions - In this section:

(1) Covered location - The term "covered location" means—

(A) - a bridge;

(B) - building;

(D) - a highway-rail grade crossing; and

(E) - a rail station.

(2) Evidence-based suicide deterrent - The term evidence-based suicide deterrent means a suicide deterrent that demonstrates a rationale based on high-quality research findings or positive evaluation that such deterrent is likely to reduce or prevent suicide, and includes ongoing efforts to examine the effects of such deterrent.

(3) State - The term State means each State of the United States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States, and each federally recognized Indian Tribe.

(i) Authorization of appropriations - There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Program $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

3. Title 23 amendment

Section 119(d)(2)(I) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking "Highway System." and adding "Highway System, including installation of safety barriers and nets on bridges of the National Highway System.".

4. Study on effectiveness of suicide prevention nets and barriers for structures other than bridges

(a) Study - The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study to identify—

(1) - the types of structures, other than bridges, that attract a high number of individuals attempting suicide-by-jumping;

(2) - the characteristics that distinguish structures identified under paragraph (1) from similar structures that do not attract a high number of individuals attempting suicide-by-jumping;

(3) - the types of nets or barriers, including manufactured and natural barriers, that are effective at reducing suicide-by-jumping with respect to the structures identified under paragraph (1);

(4) - methods of reducing suicide-by-jumping with respect to the structures identified under paragraph (1) other than nets and barriers;

(5) - quantitative measures of the effectiveness of the nets and barriers identified under paragraph (3);

(6) - quantitative measures of the effectiveness of the additional methods identified under paragraph (4);

(7) - the entities that typically install the nets and barriers identified under paragraph (3); and

(8) - the costs of the nets and barriers identified under paragraph (3).

(b) Report - Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the results of the study conducted under subsection (a).

119-HR3505