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Bill would permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I

Passed one chamberH.R. 27Latest action

Sponsor: H. Morgan Griffith · Representative · VA

AIDecoded by AI · checked against the record
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Official title: HALT Fentanyl Act

119th Congress

Topics: Crime & justice

Introduced:

Read the official bill on Congress.gov

In plain words

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The HALT Fentanyl Act permanently places all fentanyl-related substances in Schedule I and aligns their trafficking penalties with fentanyl itself.

40-second read · 4 questions answered below

What does this do?

The HALT Fentanyl Act makes permanent a previously temporary policy placing all "fentanyl-related substances" into Schedule I, the strictest drug category. It broadly defines these substances by chemical similarity to fentanyl so new variants are automatically covered without new legislation. It also streamlines research registration for scientists studying Schedule I drugs and updates penalty laws so trafficking fentanyl analogues carries the same penalties as trafficking fentanyl.

Who does it affect?

Affects medical and scientific researchers studying these chemicals, plus law enforcement, prosecutors, and individuals involved in manufacturing, distributing, or trafficking fentanyl analogues.

Why does it matter?

Broader, permanent scheduling could affect research access and how new substances are prosecuted and sentenced, according to concerns critics have previously raised.

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Where does it stand?

  1. IntroducedJan 3, 2025
  2. House committee
  3. House vote
  4. SenateYou are here · Feb 10, 2025
  5. The president's desk

Right now: it passed the House, and the official record shows nothing new since. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the president.

Latest action: — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Data as of October 9, 2026

Recorded votes

Roll-call votes recorded since January 3, 2025.

  1. House · · Roll call 33

    As recorded

    Question
    On Passage
    Result:
    Passed
    312
    Nay
    108
    0
    13

    Republicans 214 yes, 1 no, 3 not voting · Democrats 98 yes, 107 no, 10 not voting

    Official record
    How members voted

    The official record lists how each member voted.Official record

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