HR3505-119

What This Bill Does

The Barriers to Suicide Act of 2025 requires the Transportation Secretary to establish, within one year, a competitive grant program for evidence-based suicide deterrents at covered locations. Eligible recipients include states, political subdivisions, and other entities DOT determines eligible. Eligible projects install suicide prevention nets, suicide prevention barriers, or other evidence-based deterrents at bridges, buildings, parking garages, highway-rail grade crossings, and rail stations. DOT must prioritize areas with high suicide rates, considering the number of suicides, per-capita suicide rates, and other priority characteristics. The federal share may not exceed 80 percent. The bill authorizes appropriations and amends title 23 so National Highway System bridge projects can include safety barriers and nets. GAO must study suicide-by-jumping structures other than bridges, characteristics that make structures high-risk, effective manufactured and natural barriers, non-barrier methods, quantitative effectiveness measures, responsible installation entities, and costs, then report to transportation, health, and commerce committees within one year.

Who Benefits and How

State transportation agencies benefit from grants covering up to 80 percent of suicide deterrent projects. Local governments benefit from funding for barriers at parking garages, buildings, rail stations, and highway-rail grade crossings. People at risk of suicide benefit from evidence-based barriers and nets at high-risk structures. Rail and bridge operators benefit from federal support for safety investments at covered locations.

Who Bears the Burden and How

DOT grant staff must create the program, score applications, prioritize high-suicide areas, and enforce the 80 percent federal share. Grant recipients must identify evidence-based deterrents and cover the nonfederal share. GAO must complete a study and report on non-bridge suicide-by-jumping structures and deterrent effectiveness. Federal taxpayers bear the cost of new grants and eligible National Highway System barrier projects.

Key Provisions

• Requires DOT to create a suicide deterrent grant program within one year.
• Funds evidence-based nets, barriers, and deterrents at bridges, buildings, parking garages, highway-rail crossings, and rail stations.
• Prioritizes projects in areas with high suicide numbers or rates.
• Limits the federal share to 80 percent.
• Adds National Highway System bridge safety barriers and nets to title 23 eligibility.
• Requires a GAO study on effective deterrents for non-bridge structures.