Written Informed Consent Act

Senate Bill

S. 3314

119th Congress

Written Informed Consent Act

In Committee

Introduced:Dec 2, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Tim Sheehy

R - MT

Cosponsors

1

Quick Stats

Summary

The Written Informed Consent Act expands the VA's existing informed consent requirements for long-term opioid therapy to cover five additional medication categories: antipsychotics, stimulants, antidepressants, anxiolytics (anti-anxiety drugs), and narcotics. This would require veterans to provide written informed consent before receiving these psychiatric and pain medications on a long-term basis.

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

The Written Informed Consent Act expands the VA's existing informed consent requirements for long-term opioid therapy to cover five additional medication categories: antipsychotics, stimulants, antidepressants, anxiolytics (anti-anxiety drugs), and narcotics. This would require veterans to provide written informed consent before receiving these psychiatric and pain medications on a long-term basis.

Last updated: 12/27/2025

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Expands VA directive 1005 (May 2020) beyond opioids to five medication classes
Requires written informed consent for antipsychotics, stimulants, antidepressants
Also covers anxiolytics (anti-anxiety medications) and narcotics
Builds on existing long-term opioid therapy consent requirements
Sponsored by Senators Sheehy (R-MT) and Tuberville (R-AL)
Aims to ensure veterans understand risks of long-term psychiatric medications

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

Affects millions of veterans receiving mental health treatment through VA healthcare. Requires VA to update consent procedures for commonly prescribed psychiatric medications. May increase administrative burden on VA providers but ensures veterans are fully informed about medication risks and alternatives before long-term treatment.

Policy Areas

No policy areas assigned yet.

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

3314, 119th Congress (2025). "Written Informed Consent Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/119-s-3314