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Congress·In Committee

Bipartisan Bill Proposes Legal Protections for People Who Call 911 During Drug Overdoses

SEEK HELP Act

8 months ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
House
Senate
President

Key Points

  • This bill creates "Good Samaritan" rules at the federal level to save lives during drug emergencies. It protects people from being sued if they give overdose-reversal medicine to someone in need. It also prevents the government from charging someone with drug possession if the police only found out about the drugs because the person called for help.
  • The policy affects anyone who witnesses or experiences a drug overdose. Currently, many people are afraid to call 911 because they fear being arrested or sued. This law aims to remove that fear so that bystanders focus on getting medical help immediately instead of worrying about legal consequences.
  • To make sure the law works, the government would launch a public awareness campaign. This would teach the public and police officers about these new protections. States would also be allowed to use federal grant money to train emergency workers and track whether these laws are successfully reducing overdose deaths in their communities.
  • There are important limits to these protections. They do not stop the police from arresting someone who has an active warrant or is committing other serious crimes. Additionally, the law does not protect people who act with extreme recklessness or intentionally try to cause harm while pretending to help.
HealthcareCriminal Justice

Impact Analysis

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

State Impacts

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

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Jul 22, 2025House

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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.

Jul 22, 2025

Introduced in House

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Within 2 years of enactment

GAO report on Good Samaritan law effectiveness due

Within 2 years of enactment, the Government Accountability Office must publish a report evaluating whether these laws are actually reducing overdose deaths and encouraging people to call for help.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

SEEK HELP Act

Bill NumberHR 4607
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(6)
D: 3R: 3

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.