Senate Passes Tyler’s Law to Push for Routine Fentanyl Testing in Emergency Rooms
The House must act next: House consideration.
This bill’s path across every version that has carried it.
Reintroduced
Reintroduced from H.R. 6600 (118th), which died when its Congress ended.
H.R. 6600 (118th) →Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
Many overdose patients also have co-occurring mental health conditions. Better identification of fentanyl exposure in emergency settings could lead to more targeted mental health and substance use treatment referrals. The guidance could improve the connection between emergency care and ongoing behavioral health support.
“the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and in coordination with other Federal departments, agencies, or stakeholders, as appropriate”
Held at the desk.
Received in the House.
The House has received the Senate-passed bill and will decide whether to take it up.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1559-1560; text: CR S1559-1560)
The Senate voted to approve this bill. If the House already passed it, it goes to the President.
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
The Senate voted to approve this bill. If the House already passed it, it goes to the President.
The Senate passed Tyler’s Law unanimously, directing HHS to provide hospitals with guidance on implementing fentanyl testing in routine ER drug screens. Named after Tyler Shamash, who died after a hospital failed to test for fentanyl, the bill aims to close gaps in standard toxicology panels.
The Senate HELP Committee advanced Tyler’s Law, which requires HHS to study current fentanyl testing practices in ERs. The bill seeks to address the fact that synthetic opioids like fentanyl are often excluded from routine drug panels, leading to missed diagnoses and preventable deaths.
Sens. Alex Padilla and Jim Banks reintroduced Tyler’s Law, a federal bill that would direct HHS to issue guidance to hospitals on fentanyl testing. The legislation is inspired by California’s 2022 law, which was the first in the nation to mandate fentanyl testing in emergency departments.
No votes or related bills recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Tyler’s Law
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