Substitute House Bill No. 5447, also known as Public Act No. 26-62, aims to enhance the treatment and education surrounding children's behavioral health, particularly focusing on eating disorders and nutrition. The bill mandates the executive director of the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity to establish two working groups by July 1, 2026. One group will focus on compiling information about eating disorder treatment providers and establishing best practice guidelines, while the other will develop a state-wide food education roadmap and model school nutrition curriculum. The executive director is also required to report annually on the progress of these initiatives to relevant legislative committees.

Additionally, the bill includes a provision for the Commissioner of Social Services to study the feasibility of creating an inpatient facility for psychiatric treatment of children and young adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. This study must be completed by July 1, 2027, and will assess various factors such as facility size, treatment practices, operational costs, and potential sites. Furthermore, starting January 1, 2027, school-based health centers will be required to use an evidence-based screening tool for identifying disordered eating behaviors among students in grades six to twelve during their annual health assessments. The bill introduces new legal language to support these initiatives while also amending existing statutes to ensure oversight and accountability.