Bill · H.R. 7994· House(119-HR-7994)
HERO Act
- Introduced
- 3/19/2026
- Last activity
- 7/21/2026 — Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 48 - 0.
- Sponsored by
- Raul Ruiz
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
What this bill would do
The HERO Act establishes a grant program to help schools obtain opioid overdose reversal drugs. These grants are awarded competitively to private schools and local educational agencies. Recipients can use the funds to purchase approved drugs and create educational programs regarding drug-use prevention and emergency responses. Schools must develop comprehensive emergency response plans in consultation with local health departments. Additionally, the bill requires covered educational institutions receiving Federal funds to report any distribution of these drugs to specific Federal information systems.
Yes· 3 of 9
Would students be better off under this?+8
The bill directly enhances student safety and health by providing life-saving drugs and emergency training in schools.
Does this do more about addiction and overdose deaths?+8
The bill directly addresses the opioid crisis by funding overdose reversal drugs and educational programming in schools.
Would children be better off under this?+7
The bill focuses on protecting students by providing tools to respond to opioid overdoses in schools.
The opposite
Does this give the government more power to monitor people inside the country?-2
The bill mandates reporting of drug distribution to federal databases, which could be viewed as a form of increased data surveillance.
Does this give people more control over their personal data?-1
The requirement to report drug distribution to federal systems may raise concerns regarding data privacy for educational institutions.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Access to Life-Saving Medication: The bill provides grants for schools to purchase opioid overdose reversal drugs approved under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Improved Emergency Preparedness: Eligible entities are required to develop and implement comprehensive emergency response plans for school staff (Section 2(b)(2)(B)).
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Enhanced Community Knowledge: The program supports the development of educational programming or resources to promote knowledge of drug-use prevention, intervention, and emergency responses to drug overdoses (Section 2(b)(2)(C)).
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Targeted Support for High-Risk Areas: The Secretary is directed to give priority to entities located in cities or counties with high rates of drug overdoses involving opioids (Section 2(c)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Administrative Reporting Burdens: Covered educational institutions receiving Federal funds are required to submit descriptions of any distribution of opioid overdose reversal drugs to the National Emergency Medical Services Information System and the Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program (Section 3(a)).
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Grant Reporting Requirements: Grant recipients must submit detailed reports within one year of the end of their grant period, including descriptions of drug use, emergency response plans, and educational programming (Section 2(e)(1)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Students+8Good For Children+7Good For Young Adults+5Good For Urban Residents+4Good For Low Income Households+3
- Healthcare
- Improves Opioid Crisis Response+8Improves Healthcare Access+5
- Education And Technology
- Increases Public School Funding+6Improves Data Privacy-1
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+2
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Increases Domestic Surveillance-2
- 7/21/2026
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 48 - 0.
- 7/20/2026
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 7/16/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/25/2026
- Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
- 3/19/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- Introduced in House
Gus BilirakisRepublican · Florida