Bill · S. 690· Senate(119-S-690)
Overdose RADAR Act
- Introduced
- 2/24/2025
- Last activity
- 2/24/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Sponsored by
- Rick Scott
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Overdose RADAR Act aims to combat the fentanyl crisis through various legislative actions. It authorizes grants for improved data and surveillance regarding opioid-related overdoses. The bill seeks to reform the Office of National Drug Control Policy, suggesting the Director become a Cabinet-level position. It also establishes a 3-year wastewater pilot program to detect illicit substances like fentanyl or xylazine. Additionally, the act provides for grants to include drugs and devices for emergency treatment in elementary and secondary schools. Finally, it updates the Controlled Substances Act to include fentanyl test strips.
Yes· 3 of 9
Does this do more about addiction and overdose deaths?+8
The bill funds wastewater analysis to detect drugs, improves overdose data linkage, and provides emergency treatment capabilities in schools.
Would children be better off under this?+5
The bill provides for emergency treatment of opioid overdoses within elementary and secondary schools.
Would students be better off under this?+5
The bill enhances safety in schools by funding emergency overdose treatment and trained personnel.
The opposite
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-2
The bill changes the status of certain reprogramming requests to 'deemed denied,' which restricts the movement of existing funds.
Does this leave more decisions to the states?-1
The bill imposes new federal reporting requirements and guidance for how states record overdose deaths.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Data Collection: The Secretary may award grants to improve surveillance and data linkage regarding fatal and nonfatal opioid-related overdoses (Section 2).
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Enhanced Detection via Wastewater: A 3-year pilot program will award grants to municipal wastewater treatment facilities to determine the prevalence of substances like fentanyl or xylazine in communities (Section 5).
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Emergency Treatment in Schools: Eligible entities can receive grants to provide and administer drugs and devices for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdoses in elementary and secondary schools (Section 7).
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Legal Protections for School Personnel: The bill requires State attorneys general to certify that civil liability protection laws provide adequate protection for trained personnel administering emergency treatment in schools (Section 7).
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Access to Testing Tools: The bill adds fentanyl test strips to the list of items under the Controlled Substances Act (Section 8).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Changes to Death Reporting: The Office of National Drug Control Policy is directed to issue guidance that States and localities record overdose deaths as homicides if there is evidence the overdose was not self-induced or intentional (Section 3).
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Restrictions on Rule Approvals: Under the Congressional Review Act provision, if the Office of National Drug Control Policy does not certify a final rule by a National Drug Control Program participant, the rule is deemed submitted under specific federal code (Section 3).
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Denial of Reprogramming Requests: The bill changes the status of certain reprogramming and transfer requests from being "deemed approved" to "deemed denied" (Section 3).
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+8Improves Healthcare Access+4Improves Mental Health Access+3
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Children+5Good For Students+5Good For Low Income Households+2
- Economy And Finance
- Reduces Government Spending-2
- Education And Technology
- Improves School Choice+1
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Public Transit+1
- Governance And Ideology
- Increase States Rights-1
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+1
- 2/24/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 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.