The Behavioral Health Services Act Overview

Authorizes $6.4 billion to build or develop behavioral health housing and treatment facilities.

Aims to improve and expand behavioral health services and housing interventions for individuals with severe mental illness / emotional disorders (SMI / SED), & substance use disorders (SUD).

The target population for the Behavioral Health Services Act generally includes individuals who are dealing with significant behavioral health needs. This includes those with mental health conditions and / or substance use disorders.

Eligible adults and older adults, or eligible children ad youth who are:

• Chronically homeless or experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness
• In, or at risk of being in, the justice system
• Re-entering the community from prison or jail or youth correctional facility
• At risk of conservatorship or in the child welfare system
• At risk of institutionalization

The Mental Health Services Act funding components will change under the Behavioral Health Services Act.

The Mental Health Services Act ends June 2026. The components of the Mental Health Services Act are:

Community Services & Supports (CSS), Prevention & Early Intervention (PEI), Innovation (INN), Workforce, Education & Training (WET), Capital Facilities/Technological Needs (CFTN)

The Behavioral Health Services Act begins on July 1, 2026. The components of the Behavioral Health Services Act are: Housing Interventions (30%), Full Service Partnerships (35%), Behavioral Health Services & Supports (35%) and State Administrative Funds (10%).

Of the total funds, Counties are allocated 90% of total funds. The State of California is allocated 10% of total funds. Within the State of California’s 10% of funds, here is the breakdown: 3% State Administrative funds managed by the Department of Health Care Services, 3% Workforce funds managed by the Department of Health Access and Information, 4% Prevention funds managed by the California Department of Public Health.

Please see below for Proposition 1 key milestones to implement the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) (SB 326) and Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond Act (AB 531).

Bond applications for treatment sites open. Last CPPP begins under MHSA.

Bond applications for supportive housing open. Last CPPP ends under MHSA.

BHSA Fiscal and CPPP begins. First set of DHCS guidelines are due. Local decisions on FY25/26 budget.

Bond money is awarded to cities, counties, tribal entities, and organizations across California. BHSA CPPP ends.

All counties implement new 3-year comprehensive behavioral health services plan.

The County Integrated Plan is a three-year plan required by the Behavioral Health Services Act that outlines how counties will utilize various behavioral health funding sources (i.e., BHSA, 1991 and 2011 Realignment, federal grant programs, federal financial participation from Medi-Cal, opioid settlement funds, local funding, and other funding) to meet statewide and local outcome measures, reduce disparities, and address unmet needs along the Behavioral Health Care Continuum. The plan must be developed through a transparent community planning process, approved by the county board of supervisors, and submitted via the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) web-based portal in accordance with Welfare and Institutions Code §5963.02.

View infographic in pdf format.

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We look forward to hearing from the public and collaborating to make the Behavioral Health Services Act transition seamless and inclusive as possible. If you have any questions, you can email bhsa@acgov.org