Question: What is the core issue, what are the advocacy goals, and who are the stakeholders involved? Need Assignment Help? Legislative efforts to address behavioral health and substance use are vital for improving public health outcomes, as they enhance access to early intervention, promote safety, and support prevention initiatives. MdPHA backed four relevant bills, with two highlighted below. MdPHA, in collaboration with the Fund MD 988 campaign, secured legislation to permanently fund Maryland's 988 crisis helpline through a 25-cent monthly fee on cell phones. This helpline supports those facing mental health or substance use emergencies, ensuring ongoing resources beyond federal grants and state funding, and may serve as a model for other states. Finally, to combat the youth vaping epidemic affecting over 1.5 million middle and high school students,[16] MdPHA supported the Tobacco Retail Modernization Act of 2024. This bill requires retailers to keep e-cigarettes behind the counter and verify buyers' ages with ID. It also mandates enforcement checks by the Department of Health and restricts e-cig sales to specialized vape shops, excluding pharmacies. By tightening age restrictions and regulating sales, the bill aims to further reduce youth access to harmful e-cig products.