HOPE Act

Bill Number

H.R. 5252

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Health

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-09-10: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Last Updated

2025-11-21T12:04:01Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose The legislation, titled the Having Overdose Protection Equipment Act or HOPE Act, amends the 21st Century Cures Act to expand the allowable uses of certain federal grants. These grants support state and tribal efforts to address opioid use disorders, specifically allowing funds to cover activities involving public access opioid overdose reversal kits.

Key Provisions

• Grants under Section 1003 of the 21st Century Cures Act (42 U.S.C. 290ee-3a) may now support "other activities related to acquiring, making available, and maintaining public access opioid overdose reversal kits" in addition to primary prevention activities.
• The bill adds a definition for public access opioid overdose reversal kit, which consists of opioid overdose reversal medication and instructions for its administration.
• Minor technical adjustments are made to subsection (h) for paragraph numbering and placement.

Significant Changes to Existing Law This bill modifies existing grant authority in the 21st Century Cures Act by explicitly including kit-related activities. It does not create new grant programs or alter funding amounts but clarifies and broadens how existing funds may be spent.

Potential Impacts

• Government agencies: State and tribal health departments may gain flexibility in using federal grant dollars for overdose reversal kit distribution and maintenance.
• Citizens: Increased access to reversal medication in public settings could support quicker response to overdoses.
• No direct effects on international relations are outlined.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• State and tribal governments receiving grants for opioid response.
• Public health agencies and organizations involved in overdose prevention.
• Individuals and communities impacted by opioid use disorders.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill makes targeted, clarifying changes to federal grant statutes without raising apparent constitutional issues or altering federal-state authority balances. It focuses on administrative flexibility within an existing public health framework.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1]

Cosponsors (7)

Rep. McDowell, Addison P. [R-NC-6], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]

Recent Actions

• 2025-09-10: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• 2025-09-10: Introduced in House
• 2025-09-10: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Having Overdose Protection Equipment Act — issued 2025-09-10 — PDF (2 pages)