Govoptes

S 331 · HALT Fentanyl Act

Became Public Law No: 119-26.

Introduced
Jan 30, 2025
Latest action
Jul 16, 2025
Sponsor
Sen. Bill Cassidy [R-LA]
Policy area
Crime and Law Enforcement
Cosponsors
31

Summary

Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act or the HALT Fentanyl Act This bill permanently places fentanyl-related substances as a class into schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. A schedule I controlled substance is a drug, substance, or chemical that has a high potential for abuse; has no currently accepted medical value; and is subject to regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal penalties under the Controlled Substances Act. Under the bill, offenses involving fentanyl-related substances are triggered by the same quantity thresholds and subject to the same penalties as offenses involving fentanyl analogues (e.g., offenses involving 100 grams or more trigger a 10-year mandatory minimum prison term). Additionally, the bill establishes a new, alternative registration process for certain schedule I research. The bill also makes several other changes to registration requirements for conducting research with controlled substances, including permitting a single registration for related research sites in certain circumstances, waiving the requirement for a new inspection in certain situations, and allowing a registered researcher to perform certain manufacturing activities with small quantities of a substance without obtaining a manufacturing registration. Finally, the bill expresses the sense that Congress agrees with the interpretation of the Controlled Substances Act in United States v. McCray , a 2018 case decided by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York. In that case, the court held that butyryl fentanyl, a controlled substance, can be considered an analogue of fentanyl even though, under the Controlled Substances Act, the term controlled substance analogue specifically excludes a controlled substance.

Recent actions

  1. Jul 16, 2025 Became Public Law No: 119-26.
  2. Jul 16, 2025 Became Public Law No: 119-26.
  3. Jul 16, 2025 Signed by President.
  4. Jul 16, 2025 Signed by President.
  5. Jul 8, 2025 Presented to President.
  6. Jul 8, 2025 Presented to President.
  7. Jun 12, 2025 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  8. Jun 12, 2025 On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 321 - 104 (Roll no. 166). (text: 6/11/2025 CR H2625-2627)

Votes

Related pages