As key administrators of the local behavioral health safety net, counties leverage crisis response services to meet the immediate mental and behavioral needs of residents. The enactment of the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act created a new pillar in the infrastructure of crisis response to assist people experiencing a mental health or suicidal crisis by directly connecting them with the appropriate services. This panel discussion will explore how the implementation of the National 988 Suicide Hotline will shape the county crisis response infrastructure and how federal legislation can further support its implementation.