The HALT Fentanyl Act permanently places all fentanyl-related substances into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act with the same penalties as fentanyl analogues. Offenses involving 100 grams or more trigger 10-year mandatory minimum sentences. It also streamlines research registration for Schedule I substances, allowing single registration for multiple research sites and exempting some manufacturing registration requirements.
Latest Action
Became Public Law No: 119-26.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
The HALT Fentanyl Act permanently places all fentanyl-related substances into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act with the same penalties as fentanyl analogues. Offenses involving 100 grams or more trigger 10-year mandatory minimum sentences. It also streamlines research registration for Schedule I substances, allowing single registration for multiple research sites and exempting some manufacturing registration requirements.
Last updated: 1/4/2026
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act or the HALT Fentanyl Act</strong></p><p>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.</p><p>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).</p><p>Additionally, the bill establishes a new, alternative registration process for certain schedule I research.</p><p>The bill also makes several other changes to registration requirements for conducting research with controlled substances, including</p><ul><li>permitting a single registration for related research sites in certain circumstances,</li><li>waiving the requirement for a new inspection in certain situations, and</li><li>allowing a registered researcher to perform certain manufacturing activities with small quantities of a substance without obtaining a manufacturing registration.</li></ul><p>Finally, the bill expresses the sense that Congress agrees with the interpretation of the Controlled Substances Act in <em>United States v. McCray</em>, 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 <em>controlled substance analogue</em> specifically excludes a controlled substance.</p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Permanently schedules all fentanyl-related substances
Schedule I with same penalties as fentanyl analogues
This bill makes permanent a temporary scheduling order for fentanyl-related substances that has required repeated extensions. Fentanyl analogues are a major driver of overdose deaths, and permanent scheduling provides law enforcement consistent tools. The research provisions balance control with scientific needs, addressing concerns that restrictive scheduling impedes legitimate research on these substances. Critics argue mandatory minimums are ineffective; supporters say they deter trafficking.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Crime and Law Enforcement
Related Subjects
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Justice
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Licensing and registrations
Research administration and funding
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
331, 119th Congress (2025). "HALT Fentanyl Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-331