PRIA Logo™
119-hr-8005119th CongressWALLET

Stop Pills That Kill Act

Sponsored By: Representative Evans, Gabe [R-CO-8]

Passed House

Summary

Serial-numbering and tougher criminal rules for pill-making machines and parts are the bill's center. This bill would force tracing of tableting and encapsulating machines and their critical parts and expand who is regulated to stop counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and other illicit synthetics.

Show full summary
  • Manufacturers, distributors, importers, exporters, sellers, and brokers of tableting or encapsulating machines and defined "critical parts" would face new registration and transaction rules. Devices and critical parts must carry permanent serial numbers and transactions must include that ID, with the Attorney General required to write implementing rules within 180 days.
  • New crimes and penalties target tampering and illicit trade in these machines and parts. Removing or altering serial numbers or knowingly moving tampered devices is prohibited and penalties scale up to 20 years for large List I chemical cases and lower terms for other offenses.
  • The Drug Enforcement Administration must produce a comprehensive enforcement and prevention plan within 180 days and report annually to Congress through fiscal year 2031 on seizures, markings, substances found, origins, prosecutions, convictions, and prevention work.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

DEA plan against counterfeit pills

If enacted, the DEA would have 180 days to set a national plan to investigate and seize counterfeit pills with fentanyl and other illicit drugs. The plan would also boost education and prevention, including steps tailored for youth, and review current campaigns. The Attorney General, with DEA and the drug policy office, would report to Congress within one year and then each year through fiscal year 2031. Reports would list seizure totals, pill markings versus real medicines, which drugs were found, and where pills came from and were seized, plus data on charges, convictions, and sentences. The bill would define these counterfeit pills and add fentanyl and related substances to key counterfeit-pill prohibitions.

Tougher crimes for tampering and trafficking

If enacted, it would be a federal crime to remove or change required serial numbers on covered machines or parts when a person has reason to believe a serial number is required. It would also be illegal to transport, sell, import, export, possess, or distribute such tampered items knowing the number was altered and with reason to believe a number was required. The bill would also ban making or distributing these machines or parts abroad when they are meant for illicit drug production and unlawful U.S. import. Maximum prison terms would include up to 20 years for cases with a List I chemical, up to 15 years when more than 1,000 kilograms or more than 100 machines are involved, and up to 10 years or up to 8 years for other violations. The U.S. Sentencing Commission would update federal sentencing guidelines.

New ID rules for pill-making machines

If enacted, makers, distributors, importers, exporters, sellers, brokers, and traders of tablet- and capsule-making machines and key parts would need permanent serial numbers on a nonremovable part. Records and reports would have to list those serial numbers for domestic and international deals. The Attorney General would issue rules within 180 days after enactment; most requirements would start on the rule’s effective date. For devices made before enactment, certain record changes would start 180 days after enactment. Critical parts include upper punches, lower punches, and dies; more parts could be added only through rulemaking.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Evans, Gabe [R-CO-8]

CO • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation