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ADMH prepares for 2026 legislative session and highlights veterans mental‑health pilot programs
Summary
ADMH staff said they are reviewing bills ahead of the Jan. 13, 2026 legislative session and reported 13 of 91 pre‑filed bills are on the agency’s monitoring list; the Veterans Mental Health Steering Committee awarded pilots including free EMDR therapy for veterans.
Chief of Staff Collier Tynes Dixon told the Alabama Department of Mental Health Board of Trustees that ADMH is preparing for the 2026 legislative session, which begins Jan. 13, 2026. Tynes said agency staff are reviewing pre‑filed bills and currently have 13 of 91 pre‑filed bills on ADMH's monitoring list.
Tynes also reviewed the Veterans Mental Health Steering Committee pilot awardees and described a diverse set of evidence‑based treatments funded through the awards. She highlighted a program providing free Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy for veterans, noting studies have shown positive effects of EMDR for people with post‑traumatic stress disorder. Trustee Johnna Breland asked whether pilot programs that show positive results could be applied to children in foster care with PTSD; Commissioner Boswell said ADMH would want to explore adapting effective treatments to that population.
Trustees discussed interest in helping younger veterans access care. No formal policy or funding decisions were recorded during the meeting notes; the update was presented as preparatory and informational.
