# 119-s-331: HALT Fentanyl Act

119-s-331, HALT Fentanyl Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA] (R-LA); status became_law; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-331
- As of: 2026-08-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-331
- Congress: 119
- Title: HALT Fentanyl Act
- Status: became_law
- Introduced: 2025-01-30
- Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA] (R-LA)
- Cosponsors: 31
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-11

## Summary

**Permanently places fentanyl-related substances in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act** and creates a faster, clearer registration process for researchers studying those substances. The law also broadens import/export controls and aligns criminal penalties with existing fentanyl-analogue thresholds. - Researchers: Establishes an expedited electronic notice and registration pathway for Schedule I research, allows limited manufacturing for research under tight quantity limits, permits one registration for related sites, and sets agency action timelines including a 45-day response window and a 90-day filing rule when a substance is newly scheduled. - Courts and people charged with trafficking: Treats fentanyl-related substances the same as fentanyl analogues for quantity thresholds and penalties. For example, offenses involving 100 grams or more can trigger a 10-year mandatory minimum prison term. - Regulators and importers: Expands import/export analogue coverage to explicitly include fentanyl-related substances and lets the Attorney General publish a public list of covered substances and issue interim final rules within six months. An Inspector General report on the new research procedures is required within one year.

## Cosponsors (31)

- Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM] (D-NM), 2025-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] (R-IA), 2025-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS] (R-KS), 2025-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN] (R-IN), 2025-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT] (R-MT), 2025-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD] (R-SD), 2025-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV] (R-WV), 2025-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO] (R-MO), 2025-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA] (R-LA), 2025-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ] (D-AZ), 2025-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH] (D-NH), 2025-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV] (D-NV), 2025-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] (D-NH), 2025-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME] (I-ME), 2025-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ] (D-AZ), 2025-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] (R-TX), 2025-01-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO] (R-MO), 2025-02-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC] (R-NC), 2025-02-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC] (R-SC), 2025-02-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX] (R-TX), 2025-02-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL] (R-AL), 2025-02-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN] (R-TN), 2025-02-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT] (R-UT), 2025-02-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Moody, Ashley [R-FL] (R-FL), 2025-02-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA] (R-PA), 2025-03-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME] (R-ME), 2025-03-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK] (R-AK), 2025-03-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV] (R-WV), 2025-03-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE] (R-NE), 2025-03-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA] (R-IA), 2025-03-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS] (R-MS), 2025-03-11T00:00:00.000Z

## Votes

| Date | Chamber | Question | Result | Yea | Nay |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-06-12T00:00:00.000Z | house | On Passage | Passed | 321 | 104 |
| 2025-03-14T14:21:00.000Z | senate | On Passage of the Bill S. 331 | Bill Passed | 84 | 16 |
| 2025-03-13T17:36:00.000Z | senate | On the Cloture Motion S. 331 | Cloture Motion Agreed to | 84 | 15 |
| 2025-03-06T14:39:00.000Z | senate | On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed S. 331 | Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Agreed to | 82 | 12 |

## Provisions PRIA read

- Class-wide ban and penalties for fentanyl-like drugs: benefit, high. The law makes any chemical that fits the new fentanyl‑related substance definition a Schedule I drug. Any mix that contains any amount is covered, unless it is exempted or placed in another schedule. The Attorney General may post a list, but a drug is still illegal even if not listed. Criminal and…
- Faster path for Schedule I research: mixed, medium. Researchers can start certain Schedule I studies 30 days after they send a notice to the Attorney General. If not already registered, that notice counts as the application; the Attorney General must approve or issue an order to show cause within 45 days of a complete notice. When a drug becomes Sch…
- Attorney General issues rules within six months: mixed, medium. The Attorney General must issue rules to carry out this law within six months of enactment. Interim final rules can take effect immediately without a good‑cause finding. People can comment and ask for a hearing on those interim rules. After that, a final rule is issued under normal procedures.

## Related bills

- 119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
- 119-sres-755: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former Senator for the State of Michigan.
- 119-sres-739: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of John Seymour, the late Senator for the State of California.
- 119-sres-723: A resolution honoring the life of Dirk Arthur Kempthorne, former United States Senator for the State of Idaho.
- 119-sres-585: A resolution honoring the life, achievements, and legacy of Ben Nighthorse Campbell.
- 119-sres-255: A resolution honoring the life, achievements, and legacy of former United States Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond of Missouri.

## Sources
- [119-s-331 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/331)

## Related
- [119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1071)
- [119-sres-755: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former S…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-755)
- [119-sres-739: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of John Seymour, the late Senator for…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-739)
- [119-sres-723: A resolution honoring the life of Dirk Arthur Kempthorne, former United States…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-723)
- [119-sres-585: A resolution honoring the life, achievements, and legacy of Ben Nighthorse Camp…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-585)
- [119-sres-255: A resolution honoring the life, achievements, and legacy of former United State…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-255)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-331 (as of 2026-08-11).