HALT Fentanyl Act
Bill journey · stage 2 of 5
Under committee review
What it doesSummary introduced in house (Jan 3, 2025)
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 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.
What just happenedFeb 10, 2025
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Who’s behind it
- Referred in SenateFeb 10, 2025
- Engrossed in HouseFeb 6, 2025
- Introduced in HouseJan 3, 2025
- Feb 10, 2025IntroReferral
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Judiciary Committee - Feb 6, 2025FloorH38310
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Feb 6, 2025FloorH37100
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 312 - 108 (Roll no. 33). (text: CR H520-522)
- Feb 6, 2025Floor8000
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 312 - 108 (Roll no. 33). (text: CR H520-522)
- Feb 6, 2025FloorH30000
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H533-535)
- Feb 6, 2025FloorH8D000
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Trahan amendment No. 2, the Chair put the question on agreeing to the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes prevailed. Mrs. Trahan demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceeding until a time to be announced.
- Feb 6, 2025FloorH8D000
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 93, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Trahan amendment No. 2.
- Feb 6, 2025FloorH8D000
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 27.
- Feb 6, 2025FloorH8D000
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 27 with 1 hour of general debate. Motion to recommit allowed. The resolution makes in order only the further amendment printed in Part B of the Rules Committee report.
- Feb 6, 2025FloorH30000
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 93. (consideration: CR H520-533)
- Feb 5, 2025FloorH1L220
Rule H. Res. 93 passed House.
- Feb 4, 2025FloorH1L210
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 93 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 27 with 1 hour of general debate. Motion to recommit allowed. The resolution makes in order only the further amendment printed in Part B of the Rules Committee report.
- Jan 3, 2025IntroReferralH11100
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.
Judiciary Committee - Jan 3, 2025IntroReferralH11100
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.
Energy and Commerce Committee - Jan 3, 2025IntroReferralIntro-H
Introduced in House
- Jan 3, 2025IntroReferral1000
Introduced in House