Barriers to Suicide Act of 2026

This Act may be cited as the Barriers to Suicide Act of 2026.

(a) Definitions. In this section:

(1) Covered location. The term covered location means—

(A) a bridge;

(B) a building;

(C) a parking garage;

(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—

(A) demonstrates, based on high-quality research findings or a positive evaluation, that the deterrent is likely to reduce or prevent suicide; and

(B) continues to demonstrate the effects of the deterrent.

(3) Program. The term program means the program established under subsection (b).

(4) Secretary. The term Secretary means the Secretary of Transportation.

(5) State. The term State means—

(A) each of the several States;

(B) the District of Columbia;

(C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;

(D) any other territory or possession of the United States; and

(E) a federally recognized Indian Tribe.

(b) Establishment. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program to provide grants, on a competitive basis, to facilitate the installation of evidence-based suicide deterrents, including suicide prevention nets and barriers, on or at a covered location.

(c) Eligible entity. The Secretary may make a grant under the program to—

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

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

(d) 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 the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

(e) Applications. To be eligible to receive a grant under the program, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

(f) Priority. In making a grant under the program, the Secretary shall give priority to a project located in an area—

(1) with a high rate of suicide, taking into consideration the number of suicides and rate of suicides per capita in an area; or

(2) that has other priority characteristics, as determined by the Secretary.

(g) Federal share. The Federal share of the cost of a project carried out with a grant under the program may not exceed 80 percent.

(h) 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.

Section 119(d)(2)(I) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by inserting , including installation of safety barriers and nets on bridges of the National Highway System before the period at the end.

(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 enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a report on the results of the study under subsection (a) to—

(1) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives;

(2) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives;

(3) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate; and

(4) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.