STOPP Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1100
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-06: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.
- Last Updated
- 2025-06-05T08:06:53Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The "Stop the Opioid Pill Presser and Fentanyl Act" (STOPP Act), H.R. 1100, aims to curb the illicit production of controlled substances, particularly opioids and fentanyl, by regulating tableting machines (used to compress powder into pills) and encapsulating machines (used to fill capsules). It expands federal oversight under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to include "critical parts" of these machines, making it harder for unauthorized users to assemble or repair equipment for illegal drug manufacturing.
Key Provisions
- Definitions (Section 2): Amends the CSA to define "critical part" as essential components of tableting or encapsulating machines, such as press punches, die systems, hoppers, and compression rollers (or others specified by the Attorney General). Expands existing definitions of "listed chemical," "regulated transaction," and related terms to include these machines and parts.
- Regulated Transactions (Section 3): Requires records and reports for sales, imports, exports, or shipments of critical parts, similar to rules for listed chemicals. The Attorney General can prescribe formats for these records. Takes effect 120 days after enactment, with possible delays for administrative reasons.
- Serialization (Section 4, new CSA Section 310A): Mandates serial numbers on machines and critical parts, permanently affixed by manufacturers, distributors, importers, or exporters. Regulated persons must report transactions involving serialized items.
- Registration of Machines and Parts (Section 5, new CSA Section 310B): Requires registration of machines and parts with the Attorney General, including location details. Creates the "National Pill Press Registry" to track them. Covers manufacturing, distribution, delivery, import, export, or destruction (defined as rendering unusable for its purpose). The Attorney General sets rules on which items qualify.
- Registration of Businesses (Section 6, new CSA Section 310B): Mandates annual registration for manufacturers, importers, exporters, and dealers (those selling at wholesale or retail) of these machines and parts. Separate registration per business location. Waivers possible if consistent with public safety. Denials, suspensions, or revocations based on public interest factors like diversion risks, compliance history, and criminal records. Allows inspections and immediate suspensions for imminent public health dangers (e.g., risk of illegal drug production causing harm). Upon termination, businesses must liquidate inventory to registered entities within 30 days. Requires 10-year recordkeeping and periodic reports; fees may be charged. Effective 120 days after enactment.
- Offenses and Penalties (Section 7): Adds violations like failing to serialize, removing serial numbers, or operating without registration as prohibited acts under the CSA. Penalties include fines and imprisonment (up to 4 years for first offenses, higher for repeats or involving controlled substances). Provides an affirmative defense for pre-existing machine possession if transferred, serialized, or destroyed within 180 days. New rules on serial number tampering take effect 2 years after enactment, with exemptions for registered businesses.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expands the CSA's scope beyond whole machines and listed chemicals to include critical parts, treating them as regulated items to prevent easy replacement or assembly for illegal use.
- Introduces serialization and a national registry, which did not exist before, to enable tracking and traceability.
- Adds mandatory business registrations with public interest evaluations, similar to those for controlled substance handlers, but tailored to machines/parts.
- Strengthens penalties by incorporating serial number offenses into existing CSA prohibited acts (Sections 402 and 403), with new specifics on tampering and unregistered dealing.
- Authorizes the Attorney General broader rulemaking, inspections, and immediate actions for safety risks, building on but exceeding prior machine regulations.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of Justice (via the Attorney General and likely the Drug Enforcement Administration) gains new administrative burdens, including managing registrations, a national registry, and enforcement. This could require additional resources for rulemaking, inspections, and tracking, potentially improving coordination against drug trafficking.
- Citizens: May reduce availability of illicitly produced counterfeit pills, lowering overdose risks from fentanyl-laced opioids. Legitimate users (e.g., pharmaceutical companies) face compliance costs but benefit from clearer regulations. Everyday citizens involved in illegal production could face heightened legal risks.
- International Relations: Affects global trade in machines/parts by requiring U.S. serialization and registration for imports/exports, potentially complicating dealings with foreign suppliers and necessitating cooperation with international partners on enforcement.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Manufacturers, Importers, Exporters, and Dealers: Must register annually, serialize products, maintain records, and comply with reporting; face penalties for non-compliance but can apply for waivers.
- Law Enforcement and Regulators: Benefit from enhanced tracking tools like the registry to investigate drug trafficking networks.
- Pharmaceutical and Legitimate Industries: Impacted by rules on machines used for legal drug production; could see streamlined legitimate channels but added bureaucracy.
- Public Health and Victims of Opioid Crisis: Indirectly protected through reduced illicit manufacturing capacity.
- Illicit Drug Producers: Face barriers to obtaining or repairing equipment, disrupting operations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Bolsters CSA enforcement by closing loopholes in machine/part regulation, enabling better prosecution of upstream enablers in drug supply chains. Introduces due process safeguards, like "show cause" orders and corrective action plans before revocations, and administrative proceedings under the Administrative Procedure Act.
- Constitutional: Relies on Congress's commerce power to regulate interstate and international trade in drug-related equipment. Potential challenges could arise over registration burdens (e.g., as undue seizures under the Fifth Amendment) or vague definitions of "critical parts," but affirmative defenses and waiver provisions mitigate overreach.
- Political: Targets the opioid epidemic, a major public health issue, by focusing on tools for fentanyl pill production without altering substance scheduling. As an amendment to existing drug laws, it aligns with ongoing anti-trafficking efforts but may spark debates on regulatory scope versus industry burdens.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]
Cosponsors (6)
Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7], Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2]
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-06: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.
- 2025-02-06: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.
- 2025-02-06: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-06: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Stop the Opioid Pill Presser and Fentanyl Act — issued 2025-02-06 — PDF (24 pages)