HR27119th Congress

HALT Fentanyl Act

Sponsored By: Representative Griffith

Passed House

Summary

This bill would broadly designate fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I and create a structural definition for what counts as a fentanyl-related substance. It would also expand criminal penalties tied to those substances and set new, faster rules to let researchers study them under controlled conditions.

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  • Researchers and research institutions: Shorter, clearer research pathways let qualified practitioners begin certain Schedule I studies 30 days after notice and allow applicants without a registration to be registered or get an order to show cause within 45 days. Institutions can use single registrations across related sites and let certain unregistered staff work under a registered researcher after notice to the Attorney General.
  • Law enforcement and courts: The bill extends existing federal trafficking and import/export penalty provisions to cover fentanyl-related substances and adds a statutory definition for those substances.
  • Federal regulators and public transparency: The Attorney General must publish a list of covered substances and may issue rules within 6 months, including interim final rules, and must post special-procedure decisions publicly. The Justice Department Inspector General must study the research provisions and report within 1 year.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Stronger controls on fentanyl-like drugs

This bill would treat any amount of many fentanyl-like chemicals as Schedule I drugs, unless exempt or listed elsewhere. Drug and import/export penalties would also cover these fentanyl-related substances. The changes would apply on the date of enactment. The Attorney General would have six months to issue rules and could use interim rules that take effect right away with public comments. It would not be used to argue that, before enactment, those substances were not analogues in past cases.

Faster approvals for Schedule I research

Researchers could start certain Schedule I studies sooner. If already registered, they could begin 30 days after sending a notice with the drug name, amount, proof of eligible research, and state OK. If not registered, the same notice would count as an application, and the Attorney General would have 45 days to approve or issue a show-cause order. Eligible fast-track work would include FDA investigational studies and research by or funded by Defense or VA. Possession would be limited to the amounts in the notices, and import/export rules would not change.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Griffith

VA • R

Cosponsors

  • Latta

    OH • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Guthrie

    KY • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Bilirakis

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Hudson

    NC • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Carter (GA)

    GA • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Palmer

    AL • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Dunn (FL)

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Crenshaw

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Joyce (PA)

    PA • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Pfluger

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Harshbarger

    TN • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Cammack

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Miller-Meeks

    IA • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Womack

    AR • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Buchanan

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Miller (WV)

    WV • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Moolenaar

    MI • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Bost

    IL • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Evans (CO)

    CO • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Fitzgerald

    WI • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Langworthy

    NY • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Cline

    VA • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Meuser

    PA • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Van Drew

    NJ • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Feenstra

    IA • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Nunn (IA)

    IA • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

  • Ciscomani

    AZ • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2025

  • Stauber

    MN • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2025

  • Wagner

    MO • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2025

  • Balderson

    OH • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2025

  • Higgins (LA)

    LA • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2025

  • Ellzey

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2025

  • Fleischmann

    TN • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2025

  • Fry

    SC • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2025

  • Houchin

    IN • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2025

  • Rogers (KY)

    KY • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2025

  • Obernolte

    CA • R

    Sponsored 1/9/2025

  • Webster (FL)

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/9/2025

  • Burchett

    TN • R

    Sponsored 1/9/2025

  • Scott, Austin

    GA • R

    Sponsored 1/9/2025

  • Walberg

    MI • R

    Sponsored 1/9/2025

  • Fischbach

    MN • R

    Sponsored 1/9/2025

  • Wittman

    VA • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Murphy

    NC • R

    Sponsored 1/16/2025

  • Franklin, Scott

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/22/2025

  • Baumgartner

    WA • R

    Sponsored 1/22/2025

  • Ryan

    NY • D

    Sponsored 1/22/2025

  • Westerman

    AR • R

    Sponsored 1/31/2025

  • Lawler

    NY • R

    Sponsored 2/4/2025

  • Hill (AR)

    AR • R

    Sponsored 2/4/2025

  • Newhouse

    WA • R

    Sponsored 2/4/2025

  • Gillen

    NY • D

    Sponsored 2/4/2025

  • Moore (WV)

    WV • R

    Sponsored 2/4/2025

  • Haridopolos

    FL • R

    Sponsored 2/4/2025

  • Messmer

    IN • R

    Sponsored 2/4/2025

  • Fedorchak

    ND • R

    Sponsored 2/4/2025

  • Goldman (TX)

    TX • R

    Sponsored 2/4/2025

  • Barr

    KY • R

    Sponsored 2/4/2025

  • Kiley (CA)

    CA • I

    Sponsored 2/5/2025

  • McGuire

    VA • R

    Sponsored 2/5/2025

  • Begich

    AK • R

    Sponsored 2/5/2025

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 312 • No: 108

house vote • 2/6/2025

On Passage

Yes: 312 • No: 108

View on Congress.gov

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