HALT Fentanyl Act

Bill: 119-s-331
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2025-01-30 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Justice
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Licensing and registrations
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2025-01-30
text: 

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 the 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.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-07-16
text: Became Public Law No: 119-26.
action_date: 2025-07-16
text: Became Public Law No: 119-26.
action_date: 2025-07-16
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2025-07-16
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2025-07-08
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2025-07-08
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2025-06-12
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2025-06-12
text: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 321 - 104 (Roll no. 166). (text: 6/11/2025 CR H2625-2627)
action_date: 2025-06-12
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 321 - 104 (Roll no. 166). (text: 6/11/2025 CR H2625-2627)
action_date: 2025-06-12
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2806)
action_date: 2025-06-11
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on S. 331, the Chair put the question on passage of the bill and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Pallone demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2025-06-11
text: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
action_date: 2025-06-11
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on S. 331.
action_date: 2025-06-11
text: Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 884, H.R. 2056, H.R. 2096 and S. 331. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 884, H.R. 2056, H.R. 2096, and S. 331 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate for each bill. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on H.R. 884, H.R. 2056, and H.R. 2096, and one motion to commit on S. 331.
action_date: 2025-06-11
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 489. (consideration: CR H2625-2633)
action_date: 2025-06-10
text: Rule H. Res. 489 passed House.
action_date: 2025-06-09
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 489 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 884, H.R. 2056, H.R. 2096 and S. 331. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 884, H.R. 2056, H.R. 2096, and S. 331 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate for each bill. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on H.R. 884, H.R. 2056, and H.R. 2096, and one motion to commit on S. 331.
action_date: 2025-03-18
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2025-03-18
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2025-03-14
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2025-03-14
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 84 - 16. Record Vote Number: 127.
action_date: 2025-03-14
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 84 - 16. Record Vote Number: 127.
action_date: 2025-03-14
text: The committee substitute agreed to by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2025-03-14
text: Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S1762-1765)
action_date: 2025-03-13
text: Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S1735)
action_date: 2025-03-13
text: Cloture on the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 84 - 15. Record Vote Number: 124. (CR S1735)
action_date: 2025-03-11
text: Cloture motion on the measure presented in Senate. (CR S1659)
action_date: 2025-03-11
text: Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S1659)
action_date: 2025-03-10
text: Measure laid before Senate by motion.
action_date: 2025-03-10
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S1623)
action_date: 2025-03-10
text: Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S1623)
action_date: 2025-03-06
text: Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 82 - 12. Record Vote Number: 110. (CR S1596)
action_date: 2025-03-06
text: Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S1596)
action_date: 2025-03-05
text: Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S1521)
action_date: 2025-03-04
text: Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S1488)
action_date: 2025-03-04
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S1488)
action_date: 2025-03-03
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 18.
action_date: 2025-03-03
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2025-03-03
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2025-02-27
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2025-01-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2025-01-30
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 119-26