Bill · S. 331· Senate(119-S-331)
HALT Fentanyl Act
- Introduced
- 1/30/2025
- Last activity
- 7/16/2025 — Became Public Law No: 119-26.
- Sponsored by
- Bill Cassidy
- Cosponsors
- - 24 - 6
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To President
- Became Law
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act or the HALT Fentanyl Act. It permanently places all fentanyl-related substances into schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. The legislation creates streamlined and expedited registration processes for researchers studying these controlled substances. It allows certain research institutions to share registrations among employees and use a single registration for multiple sites within the same city or county. The bill also explicitly applies federal criminal penalties for manufacturing, distributing, importing, or exporting to any fentanyl-related substance. Finally, it directs the Attorney General to issue interim final rules to implement the changes within six months.
Yes· 3 of 9
Does this do more about addiction and overdose deaths?+6
The act directly attempts to combat the fentanyl crisis by increasing penalties and attempting to decrease availablity.
Does this make mental health care easier to get?+3
Expedited research on Schedule I substances, including fentanyl, could speed up the development of treatments for addiction and overdose.
Does this put more money into medical research?+3
The bill streamlines research processes for schedule I substances, indirectly incentivizing funding.
The opposite· 3 of 10
Does this shorten or soften prison sentences?-3
Increased penalties for fentanyl-related substances could lead to longer prison sentences, hindering criminal sentencing reform efforts.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?-2
Increased penalties could disproportionately affect low-income households due to the higher likelihood of being involved in the criminal justice system.
Would Black Americans be better off under this?-2
Increased penalties could disproportionately affect African Americans due to existing racial disparities in the criminal justice system.
What Congress actually voted on
4 recorded votes have been taken on this bill. 2 of them decided something; the rest moved it along.
- The Senate: the vote on whether to pass the billBill Passed 84–16
This is the real decision in this chamber. Passing here sends the bill to the other chamber, which must pass it too before it can go to the President.
03/14/2025 · Roll call 127 · recorded as “On Passage of the Bill S. 331”
- The House: the vote on whether to pass the billPassed 321–104
This is the real decision in this chamber. Passing here sends the bill to the other chamber, which must pass it too before it can go to the President.
06/12/2025 · Roll call 166 · recorded as “On Passage”
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Expedited Research Processes: Section 3(a) introduces special provisions allowing researchers conducting specific types of studies, such as those backed by federal grants or investigating authorized drugs, to use expedited notice procedures to get registered. This could benefit the public by speeding up the scientific understanding and development of treatments related to fentanyl.
-
Reduced Red Tape for Research Institutions: Section 3(b) and Section 3(c) allow agents or employees of a research institution to operate under an existing researcher's registration without getting a separate one, and permit a researcher to use a single registration across multiple sites within the same city or county. This cuts down on unnecessary paperwork and administrative burdens for scientific researchers.
-
Transparency from Officials: Section 3(g) requires the Attorney General to make public on the Drug Enforcement Administration website the identities of all substances subject to unique research processes, along with the criteria used. This provision holds our elected and appointed officials accountable by forcing them to be transparent about how research applications are handled.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Severe Criminal Penalties: Section 6 explicitly updates federal laws to ensure that penalties for manufacturing, distributing, importing, or exporting apply directly to any fentanyl-related substance. While aimed at stopping dangerous drugs, this could place heavy burdens on individuals or groups facing prosecution if the wide definitions cast too broad a net.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Improves Opioid Crisis Response+6Improves Mental Health Access+3Increases Research Funding+3Improves Veterans Healthcare+2Improves Healthcare Access+1
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Veterans+2Good For African Americans-2Good For Hispanic Americans-2Good For Low Income Households-2Good For Men-1Good For Middle Aged-1Good For Native Americans-1Good For Students-1Good For Young Adults-1
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Criminal Sentencing Reform-3Improves Racial Equity-2
- Education And Technology
- Increases Scientific Research Funding+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+2
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+2
- Public Law(7/16/2025)
The text as it became law
- Enrolled Bill
The final version, on its way to the President
| Updated | Bill | Title | Policy Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year ago | To improve the bill. |
- 7/16/2025
- Signed by President.
- Became Public Law No: 119-26.
- 7/8/2025
- Presented to President.
- 6/12/2025
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 321 - 104 (Roll no. 166). (text: 6/11/2025 CR H2625-2627)
- On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 321 - 104 (Roll no. 166). (text: 6/11/2025 CR H2625-2627)
- Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2806)
- 6/11/2025
- POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on S. 331, the Chair put the question on passage of the bill and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Pallone demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
- The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on S. 331.
- Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 884, H.R. 2056, H.R. 2096 and S. 331. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 884, H.R. 2056, H.R. 2096, and S. 331 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate for each bill. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on H.R. 884, H.R. 2056, and H.R. 2096, and one motion to commit on S. 331.
- Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 489. (consideration: CR H2625-2633)
- 6/10/2025
- Rule H. Res. 489 passed House.
- 6/9/2025
- Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 489 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 884, H.R. 2056, H.R. 2096 and S. 331. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 884, H.R. 2056, H.R. 2096, and S. 331 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate for each bill. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on H.R. 884, H.R. 2056, and H.R. 2096, and one motion to commit on S. 331.
- 3/18/2025
- Held at the desk.
- Received in the House.
- 3/14/2025
- Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S1762-1765)
- The committee substitute agreed to by Unanimous Consent.
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 84 - 16. Record Vote Number: 127.
- Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 84 - 16. Record Vote Number: 127.
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- 3/13/2025
- Cloture on the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 84 - 15. Record Vote Number: 124. (CR S1735)
- Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S1735)
- 3/11/2025
- Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S1659)
- Cloture motion on the measure presented in Senate. (CR S1659)
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/10/2025
- Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S1623)
- Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S1623)
- Measure laid before Senate by motion.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/6/2025
- Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S1596)
- Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 82 - 12. Record Vote Number: 110. (CR S1596)
- 5 Cosponsors added.
- 3/5/2025
- Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S1521)
- 3/4/2025
- Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S1488)
- Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S1488)
- 3/3/2025
- Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 18.
- 2/27/2025
- Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 2/11/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/3/2025
- 7 Cosponsors added.
- 1/30/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 16 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
- 119-HR-27: HALT Fentanyl Act
- 119-HRES-489: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 884) to prohibit individuals who are not citizens of the United States from voting in elections in the District of Columbia and to repeal the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2056) to require the District of Columbia to comply with federal immigration laws; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2096) to restore the right to negotiate matters pertaining to the discipline of law enforcement officers of the District of Columbia through collective bargaining, to restore the statute of limitations for bringing disciplinary cases against members or civilian employees of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, and for other purposes; and providing for consideration of the bill (S. 331) to amend the Controlled Substances Act with respect to the scheduling of fentanyl-related substances, and for other purposes.
Marsha BlackburnRepublican · Tennessee
Katie BrittRepublican · Alabama
Susan CollinsRepublican · Maine
Shelley CapitoRepublican · West Virginia
John CornynRepublican · Texas
Ted CruzRepublican · Texas
Catherine Cortez MastoDemocrat · Nevada
Steve DainesRepublican · Montana
Joni ErnstRepublican · Iowa
Lindsey GrahamRepublican · South Carolina
Chuck GrassleyRepublican · Iowa
Ruben GallegoDemocrat · Arizona
Martin HeinrichDemocrat · New Mexico
Maggie HassanDemocrat · New Hampshire
Cindy Hyde-SmithRepublican · Mississippi
Josh HawleyRepublican · Missouri
James JusticeRepublican · West Virginia
Mark KellyDemocrat · Arizona
Angus KingIndependent · Maine
John KennedyRepublican · Louisiana
Mike LeeRepublican · Utah
Roger MarshallRepublican · Kansas
David McCormickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Ashley MoodyRepublican · Florida
Mike RoundsRepublican · South Dakota
Pete RickettsRepublican · Nebraska
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire
Dan SullivanRepublican · Alaska
Eric SchmittRepublican · Missouri
Thomas TillisRepublican · North Carolina
Todd YoungRepublican · Indiana