FACTS Act

Bill Number

H.R. 3130

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Health

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-05-01: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, 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.

Last Updated

2026-06-19T08:06:19Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The FACTS Act (H.R. 3130) aims to reduce the misuse and overdose of synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, among youth by fostering partnerships between public schools and public health agencies. It promotes education, awareness, prevention, and recovery programs, while improving professional development for school staff and enhancing data collection on opioid-related risks.

Key Provisions

• Pilot Grant Program (Title I): The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), in consultation with the Secretary of Education, awards 3-year competitive grants to up to 25 eligible partnerships (e.g., local/state educational agencies with health organizations). Funds support evidence-based activities like developing educational materials, professional training, workshops, multimedia campaigns, peer counseling, and recovery programs for secondary school-aged children. Grants prioritize areas with high youth opioid use and ensure equitable distribution across regions and populations. Grantees must report annually on effectiveness, with funds reserved (up to 5%) for evaluation and technical assistance. Authorization: Such sums as necessary for FY 2026–2028.

• Interagency Task Force (Title II): Establishes a task force chaired by the HHS Secretary, including federal officials (e.g., from Education, CDC, NIH) and non-federal members (e.g., parents affected by youth overdoses, nonprofit representatives). Duties include evaluating federal/state programs, identifying best practices for prevention and treatment, and developing a national strategy for youth opioid misuse prevention. It does not limit existing agency authorities.

• Amendments to Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965 (Title III):
• Requires professional development for all school personnel (teachers, leaders, support staff) on preventing synthetic opioid misuse.
• Mandates local educational agency (LEA) plans to include strategies for engaging staff, parents, and health officials in prevention efforts.
• Requires state educational agency (SEA) plans to support LEAs in addressing opioid misuse.

• Data Collection Enhancements (Title IV): Amends the Education Sciences Reform Act to include data on access to synthetic opioids in schools and their effects on safety, health, and well-being.

• School-Based Health and Reporting Improvements (Title V):
• Allows school-based health centers to use funds for naloxone (a medication to reverse opioid overdoses) and other prevention programs.
• Updates the "Monitoring the Future" survey (by National Institute on Drug Abuse) and Youth Risk Behavior Survey (by CDC) starting January 1, 2026, to include questions on youth use, awareness, and access to synthetic opioids.
• Requires CDC to evaluate the State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System for data on synthetic opioids affecting youth, with a report to Congress by mid-2026. Authorization: Such sums as necessary for FY 2026.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• ESEA Amendments: Adds synthetic opioid prevention to professional development requirements, LEA plans, and SEA support obligations, expanding beyond general substance abuse education.
• Education Sciences Reform Act: Broadens school crime and safety data collection to specifically track synthetic opioid access and impacts, previously focused on general violence and drugs.
• Public Health Service Act: Expands allowable uses of funds for school-based health centers to include naloxone purchases and synthetic opioid prevention, building on existing health services.
• Survey and Reporting Updates: Introduces mandatory indicators on synthetic opioids in national youth surveys and overdose reporting, enhancing focus on fentanyl-like substances not previously emphasized.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Increases coordination among HHS, Education, CDC, and others via the task force and grants, potentially straining budgets but improving data-driven responses. Requires new evaluations and reporting, which could inform future policies.
• Citizens (Especially Youth and Families): Enhances school-based education and access to naloxone, potentially reducing youth overdoses through awareness, peer support, and recovery programs. Families gain from workshops and shared materials, with culturally responsive approaches for diverse communities.
• International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though improved U.S. data on synthetic opioids (often linked to global supply chains) could support international health collaborations.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Youth and Students: Primary beneficiaries through prevention education, counseling, and health center services in secondary schools.
• Schools and Educators: Local/state agencies, teachers, support staff, and classified employees (e.g., bus drivers, custodians) receive training and resources; must integrate opioid prevention into plans.
• Public Health Agencies and Nonprofits: Partner in grants, provide expertise, and deliver services; nonprofits can receive subgrants for outreach.
• Parents and Families: Engaged in program design, workshops, and dissemination of materials.
• Tribal and Underserved Communities: Prioritized in grant distribution, with assurances for cultural responsiveness and rural outreach.
• Federal Agencies: HHS, Education Department, CDC, NIH lead implementation, evaluation, and data collection.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Emphasizes evidence-based practices and supplement-not-supplant rules for funds, ensuring compliance with existing federal education and health laws without overriding state authority. Grant applications require interagency agreements and stakeholder engagement, promoting accountability through mandatory reporting to Congress.
• Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; aligns with federal spending power for education and public health under the General Welfare Clause. Protects privacy in data collection by building on established surveys.
• Political: Addresses the ongoing opioid crisis with a youth-focused, bipartisan approach (introduced by representatives from both parties), potentially influencing future appropriations and state-level adoptions. Highlights whole-of-government coordination, which could set precedents for interagency task forces on public health emergencies.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]

Cosponsors (9)

Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2], Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

Recent Actions

• 2025-05-01: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, 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.
• 2025-05-01: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, 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.
• 2025-05-01: Introduced in House
• 2025-05-01: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Fentanyl Awareness for Children and Teens in Schools Act — issued 2025-05-01 — PDF (25 pages)