Congress·Passed House·H.R. 27

Congress Moves to Permanently Ban Fentanyl-Like Drugs and Speed Up Medical Research

HALT Fentanyl Act

about 1 year ago·View on Congress.gov

Part of: Congress Permanently Classifies Fentanyl Substances as Schedule I Drugs

⏸

Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

✓ House

312–108

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

This bill permanently classifies all "fentanyl-related substances" as Schedule I drugs. These are chemical variations of fentanyl that are often made in labs to avoid current drug laws while remaining highly dangerous and addictive.
From policy text
“Unless specifically exempted or unless listed in another schedule, any material, compound, mixture, or preparation which contains any quantity of a fentanyl-related substance, or which contains the salts, isomers, and salts of isomers of a fentanyl-related substance whenever the existence of such salts, isomers, and salts of isomers is possible within the specific chemical designation.”
View in full text
Law enforcement will be able to charge traffickers of these chemical variations with the same strict penalties used for regular fentanyl. This aims to close a loophole that allowed "designer" versions of the drug to be sold with less risk of long prison sentences.
The policy makes it easier for scientists to study these substances by creating a faster registration process. Researchers with government funding or FDA approval can start their work sooner, which may help in developing new treatments for addiction or overdoses.
Qualified researchers will no longer need separate registrations for every building where they work, as long as the sites are in the same city. They can also create small amounts of the chemicals for their experiments without getting a separate manufacturing license.
The Attorney General is required to set up these new rules within six months. This ensures that while the drugs are strictly controlled for the public, the medical community has a clear and efficient path to study them safely.

Criminal JusticeHealthcare

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Who is affectedScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

4 milestones14 actions

Feb 10, 2025Senate

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Feb 6, 2025House

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Feb 6, 2025House

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 312 - 108 (Roll no. 33). (text: CR H520-522)

Feb 6, 2025

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 312 - 108 (Roll no. 33). (text: CR H520-522)

Feb 6, 2025House

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H533-535)

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Upon enactment (pending Senate passage and presidential signature)

All fentanyl-related substances become permanently classified as Schedule I drugs with full criminal penalties taking effect

Once signed into law, anyone caught trafficking, manufacturing, or possessing these synthetic fentanyl variants faces the same severe federal penalties as for regular fentanyl, closing the loophole that allowed designer versions to dodge prosecution.

Within 6 months of enactment

Attorney General must issue rules implementing the new research registration processes within 6 months of enactment

Researchers will have a clear, streamlined path to get approval for studying fentanyl-related substances, including faster registration timelines and the ability to work across multiple sites under one registration.

Within 1 year of enactment

DOJ Inspector General completes a report on fentanyl-related research activities

Congress will get a full picture of how well the new expedited research process is working and whether adjustments are needed to ensure both public safety and scientific progress.

Vote Results

2 votes

HouseFailedAmendmentFeb 6, 2025

On Agreeing to the Amendment

An amendment to elect officers of the House.

182

226

Democrat

182 – 24 · 9

Republican

0 – 202 · 15

View full roll call

HousePassedPassageFeb 6, 2025

On Passage

312

108

Democrat

98 – 107 · 10

Republican

214 – 1 · 3

View full roll call

Related News

4 articles

The Hill·about 1 year ago

House passes bill to permanently schedule fentanyl-related substances

In a 312-108 bipartisan vote, the House approved the HALT Fentanyl Act. The legislation permanently classifies fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs, closing a loophole used by traffickers to avoid prosecution by slightly altering the drug's chemical makeup.

Seeking Alpha·8 months ago

Politics And The Markets 07/16/25: Trump signs HALT Fentanyl Act

President Trump spoke about signing the HALT Fentanyl Act, which permanently classifies fentanyl-related substances as a Schedule I drug. He described the law as a 'righteous blow' to drug cartels and a historic step toward justice for families affected by the fentanyl scourge.

WJHL-TV·about 1 year ago

HALT Fentanyl Act Does NOT Halt Medical Use of Fentanyl

A breakdown of the HALT Fentanyl Act clarifies that while it schedules illicit fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I, it does not reschedule medical fentanyl (Schedule II). The bill's sponsor confirmed the law preserves medical usage while targeting dangerous lab-created variations.

Related Bills

2 bills

S. 331Related bill

HALT Fentanyl Act

Jul 16 — Became Public Law No: 119-26.

H.Res. 93Procedurally related

Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 27) to amend the Controlled Substances Act with respect to the scheduling of fentanyl-related substances, and for other purposes.

Feb 5 — Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.