LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

SENATE, No. 3013

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: FEBRUARY 24, 2026

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Establishes telecommunication fee to support Statewide behavioral health crisis system of care.

Type of Impact:

Annual State revenue increase.

Agencies Affected:

Department of the Treasury and Department of Human Services.

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

Annual

 

State Revenue Increase

$67.3 million

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative (OLS) estimates that the bill will annually generate $67.3 million in State revenue, to be deposited into the newly established 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Hotline Trust Fund Account to support the Statewide behavioral health crisis system of care.

 

·         Currently, the State funds the Statewide behavioral health crisis system of care, as it is required under federal and State law, from a mixture of federal and State sources.  The OLS notes, however, that nothing in this bill would require the State to expand services under this existing system of care.

 

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill establishes a monthly Statewide 9-8-8 fee in the amount of $0.40 per line per month for each resident of New Jersey who is a subscriber of commercial mobile services or IP-enabled voice services.  The fee will not be applied to mobile service users who receive benefits under the federal Lifeline program. 

      The fees collected pursuant to this bill will be deposited into the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Hotline Trust Fund Account, established pursuant to the bill, and used to pay expenses that are reasonably attributed to the Statewide behavioral health crisis system of care.

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received; however, the FY 2026 Governor’s Budget proposed an identical fee and estimated that the fee would generate approximately $61 million annually.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS estimates that the bill will annually generate $67.3 million a year in State revenue, to be deposited into the newly established 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Hotline Trust Fund Account, due to the implementation of a $0.40 monthly telecommunication fee on approximately 13.9 million applicable mobile service or voice service lines.  Funds generated under the bill are required to support the Statewide behavioral health crisis system of care.  The OLS notes, however, that nothing in this bill would require the State to expand services under this existing system of care.

      Currently, the State funds the Statewide behavioral health crisis system of care, as it is required under the federal National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020 and P.L.2022, c.35, from a mixture of federal and State sources.  In FY 2026, the Department of Human Services anticipates expending a total of $41.6 million in support of the system of care – of which $28.8 million is appropriated from the General Fund in the annual appropriations act and $12.8 million is due to various federal grants.  The Commissioner of Human Services reported via testimony before the legislative budget committees in May 2025, that at full implementation the system of care would cost approximately $67 million annually, with about 81 percent, or $54.3 million, supported by State funds. 

 

 

Section:

Human Services

Analyst:

Sarah Schmidt

Principal Research Analyst

Approved:

Thomas Koenig

Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

 

 

This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

 

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).