Assemblyman Mark González was joined by county leaders and LGBTQ+ advocates at a press conference in December announcing plans to have the Press 3 option restored. (photo courtesy of Assemblyman Mark Gonzalez’s office)

Assemblyman Mark González (D-Los Angeles) introduced Assembly Bill 1540 on Jan. 5, legislation that will reestablish the 988 Press 3 LGBTQ+ Youth Suicide Crisis Line. Funding for the 988 Press 3 option was exhausted in 2024 and new funding was not provided by the federal government.

“We have seen decades of hard-fought rights and services rolled back under this federal administration, including access to this proven lifesaving hotline,” González said. “We will not stand by as our youth are pushed into crisis, lost to suicide and forgotten. With AB 1540, California affirms its commitment and ensures we will not abandon our young people.”

Since 2022, 988 – the nation’s official hotline for suicide prevention – has contracted with nonprofits to route more than 1.5 million contacts to specialized LGBTQ+ care providers. The federal government ended all contracts with 988 LGBTQ+ providers, taking away a proven lifesaving tool, González added. The assemblyman joined county leaders at a press conference on Dec. 9 where plans were announced for an effort to restore the hotline. Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, 4th District, is leading the effort to reestablish the Press 3 option in L.A. County.

“The Press 3 option was a lifeline, and losing it has been devastating,” Hahn said. “We will never turn our backs on our LGBTQ+ young people. While we work to restore the service in L.A. County, I am grateful to Assemblymember González for leading this effort in Sacramento as well. Lives are on the line, and we have no time to waste.”

LGBTQ+ Youth in California make up a large percentage of 988 callers. Before funding was discontinued on July 17, 2025, calling “988” and pressing “3” allowed help seekers to be automatically routed to a subnetwork of LGBTQ+ providers. The 988 LGBTQ+ youth subnetwork received 73,000 calls from California from July 2024 to June 2025, representing 9% of all calls to the subnetwork.

From May 2024 to April 2025, the LGBTQ+ youth subnetwork received 680,127 calls, representing approximately 14% of the approximately 5.1 million calls that 988 received during the period. Los Angeles County accounts for one-third of the state’s overall 988 call volume.

“LGBTQ+ young people are facing a mental health crisis, and the Trump administration’s attacks have only deepened the harm,” Equality California executive director Tony Hoang said. “When the federal government walks away from its responsibility, California has an obligation to act. This legislation makes clear that our state will not abandon LGBTQ+ youth in their most vulnerable moments. By restoring the 988 LGBTQ+ Youth Suicide Crisis Line, Assemblymember González is helping ensure that young people in crisis can reach real, affirming support when it matters most.”

For information, visit a54 .asmdc.org.