Signed into law
HALT Fentanyl Act
This act 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.
- Measure
- S. 331 · 119th Congress
- Latest action
- July 16, 2025
- Policy changes
- 4
- Source
- CRS summary (Public Law) · Congress.gov
Became Public Law No: 119-26.
Who wrote it
Sponsor
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA)Joined by 31 cosponsors, 16 of them from the day it was introduced. Introduced January 30, 2025.
All 31 cosponsors
- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) · original
- Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) · original
- Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) · original
- Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) · original
- Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) · original
- Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) · original
- Sen. Margaret Wood Hassan (D-NH) · original
- Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) · original
- Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) · original
- Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) · original
- Sen. Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME) · original
- Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) · original
- Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) · original
- Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) · original
- Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) · original
- Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) · original
- Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
- Sen. Katie Boyd Britt (R-AL)
- Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)
- Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-SC)
- Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO)
- Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT)
- Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC)
- Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL)
- Sen. Susan M. Collins (R-ME)
- Sen. James C. Justice (R-WV)
- Sen. David McCormick (R-PA)
- Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE)
- Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK)
- Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA)
- Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS)
How Congress voted
Senate · March 14, 2025
Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 84 - 16. Record Vote Number: 127.
84 yea · 16 nay · Republicans 53–0 · Democrats 30–15 · Independents 1–1 · Official record
House · June 12, 2025
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 321 - 104 (Roll no. 166).
321 yea · 104 nay · 7 other · Republicans 217–1 · Democrats 104–103 · Official record
Your delegation
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In their own words
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What it changes — and your vote
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Provision 1
Under the act, 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).
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Provision 2
Additionally, the act establishes a new, alternative registration process for certain schedule I research.
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Provision 3
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.
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Provision 4
Finally, the act 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.
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