Commission on Mental Health and Substance Abuse

As provided by Section 394.9086, Florida Statutes, the Commission on Mental Health and

Substance Use Disorder (Commission) was created in 2021 and ratified in 2023 by the Florida

Legislature to examine the current methods of providing mental health and substance use

disorder services in the state and to improve the effectiveness of current practices, procedures,

programs, and initiatives in providing such services; identify any barriers or deficiencies in the

delivery of such services; assess the adequacy of the current infrastructure of Florida’s 988

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline system and other components of the state’s crisis response services;

and recommend changes to existing laws, rules, and policies necessary to implement the

Commission’s recommendations.

The Commission and its subcommittees have held meetings since August 2022 and released

three annual interim reports with recommendations, presented to the Governor, President of

the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Representatives. Meetings of the Commission and its

Subcommittees are open to the public. Most are held virtually on Microsoft Teams. 

Meetings schedule of the Subcommittees and full Commission.

Below are links to the three annual reports, the most recent published in January 2025:

• Commission on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Annual Interim Report – January 1, 2025
• Commission on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Annual Interim Report – January 1, 2024
• Commission on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Annual Interim Report – January 1, 2023