Bill offers legal protection to those who call for help during overdoses
In committeeH.R. 4607Latest action
Sponsor: Joe Neguse · Representative · CO
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: SEEK HELP Act
119th Congress
Topics: Crime & justice
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
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The SEEK HELP Act shields overdose callers and naloxone responders from prosecution, lawsuits, and asset seizure.
55-second read · 5 questions answered below
What does this do?
The bill creates federal Good Samaritan protections for people who give naloxone in good faith to reverse an overdose, generally shielding them from lawsuits unless they acted recklessly. It also protects people who call 911 or seek medical help during an overdose from prosecution, property seizure, or loss of supervised release for simple drug possession, as long as police learned of the drugs only through that call. These protections don't apply if police already had a warrant or were conducting a lawful search.
Who does it affect?
The bill mainly affects people who use drugs and their friends or family, emergency responders and law enforcement, and state health and justice agencies that manage federal grant funds.
Why does it matter?
The changes aim to remove legal fears that discourage people from calling for help during overdoses, while preserving law enforcement authority when a warrant or lawful search is already underway.
What does it cost, and who pays?
- States use existing grants for training
- HHS runs national awareness campaign
- study due within two years
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Where does it stand?
- IntroducedJul 22, 2025
- House committeeYou are here · Jul 22, 2025
- House vote
- Senate
- The president's desk
Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the president.
Latest action: — 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.