California funds plan to restore LGBTQ+ 988 crisis line

California is preparing a backup plan for an LGBTQ+ crisis service the Trump administration dismantled and now says it intends to rebuild.

State lawmakers have approved a proposal allowing California to pursue its own “Press 3” option within the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline if the federal replacement excludes transgender people, discourages parts of the LGBTQ+ community from using it or bars experienced LGBTQ+ organizations from participating.

Assembly Bill 173 establishes the policy, and Assembly Bill 113 makes $5 million available to support it. Both measures have passed the state legislature and, as of Tuesday, were awaiting action by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The plan grew out of AB 1540, introduced by gay Democratic Assemblymember Mark González. The Advocate reported in June that the proposal sought to revive the dedicated pathway that once connected LGBTQ+ young people with specially trained crisis counselors.

Related: California moves to restore a lifeline for LGBTQ+ youth that Trump eliminated

“There is an invisible struggle that many of us in the community have faced — that strain on your heart, the spiral in your mind, the endless nights of tears and what-ifs,” González said in a statement to The Advocate.

“Especially in a world where the Trump administration chooses hate at every twist and turn, California will make sure that someone is on the other end of that line who knows how to help them,” he added.

California cannot simply switch the service back on. Because 988 is federally administered, the state would need approval from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration or its contracted network administrator.

The California Health and Human Services Agency would assess the federal service annually. If officials find it inadequate, the state could seek permission to route California callers who press 3 to an LGBTQ±specialized crisis center. Following federal approval, California would have up to 12 months to install the technology and hire qualified providers, prioritizing organizations that primarily serve LGBTQ+ people.

The Trump administration eliminated the national LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services program on July 17, 2025, saying it would “no longer silo LGB+ youth services.” Its announcement omitted transgender people. The program had handled approximately 1.6 million contacts since beginning as a pilot in 2022, including more than 73,000 from California during its final year.

Related: Trump admin rejects The Trevor Project from restored LGBTQ+ 988 crisis lifeline it helped build

Congress later directed the administration to restore the service and specified $33.1 million for it. HHS told The Advocate that “Press 3” would return by the end of 2026, although officials said it must comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order denying federal recognition of transgender identities.

The contracting process also appeared to exclude The Trevor Project, which helped create the service and handled about half its contacts. No contractor has been publicly announced.

On Tuesday, HHS announced $252 million for 988 and other crisis services without mentioning the LGBTQ+ option, its provider, or when it would return.

“We are investing more than $380 million to strengthen America’s behavioral health system and help people get effective care when they need it,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “That includes $252 million to strengthen 988, prevent suicide, and improve crisis response in communities across the country.”

SAMHSA Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Christopher D. Carroll added, “988 has become a critical front door to behavioral health care for millions of Americans, but answering the call is only the beginning.”