Jon Husted, U.S. Senator from Ohio | Official facebook
Jon Husted, U.S. Senator from Ohio | Official facebook
A bill supported by U.S. Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) that aims to combat fentanyl trafficking is now headed to the president’s desk after passing both chambers of Congress.
“Fentanyl-related substances stole the lives of more than 3,500 Ohioans in 2023 alone. The HALT Fentanyl Act would permanently classify fentanyl analogs as a Schedule 1 substance, empowering law enforcement to get this deadly drug off Ohio streets and save lives. We must stop the flow of fentanyl onto our soil and lock up the criminals who are flooding our communities with that poison,” said Husted.
Husted played a role in advancing the HALT Fentanyl Act through the Senate on March 14, 2025. The House approved the measure on June 12, 2025.
The legislation, which has support from both parties and both houses of Congress, seeks to make permanent a temporary order that classifies all fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs under federal law. This change would address a gap in current law that authorities say traffickers have used to their advantage.
In Ohio, fentanyl accounted for most opioid-related deaths in 2023—making up about 95% of such fatalities across the state.
According to President Trump’s Office of Management and Budget, if Congress passes the bill, it will be signed into law.
The full text of the bill can be found here.
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