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HF 487

A bill for an act relating to drug paraphernalia and drug-checking equipment.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Brett Barker and 1 co-sponsor

HF 487 legalizes drug-checking tools and paraphernalia for harm reduction organizations, enhancing safety and reducing overdose risks for substance users.

#controlledsubstances #drugs #narcotics
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Bill Summary · HF 487

Summary of HF 487 - Drug Paraphernalia and Drug-Checking Equipment Bill

Bill Overview

  • Bill Number: HF 487 (renumbered as HF 699)
  • Introduced: February 19, 2025
  • Status: Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 699
  • Classification: Bill
  • Subject: Controlled Substances, Drugs, Narcotics

Purpose and Intent

The primary aim of HF 487 is to enhance harm reduction efforts related to substance use by legalizing and regulating the use of drug-checking equipment and drug paraphernalia. This legislation seeks to mitigate the adverse consequences of substance use by allowing organizations that provide harm reduction services to utilize specific tools and materials for testing and safely handling controlled substances.

Key Provisions

  1. Definitions:

    • Drug-Checking Equipment: Includes fentanyl test strips, xylazine test strips, immunoassay drug testing strips, colorimetric reagents, and various spectrometers (e.g., Fourier transform infrared, Raman). It does not include the substances being analyzed or drug packaging.
    • Drug-Checking Packaging: Refers to materials used to safely store or transport small amounts of controlled substances, including plastic bags, vials, and wax paper bindles.
    • Eligible Activities: Encompasses the purchasing, obtaining, providing, transporting, distributing, using, or evaluating drug-checking equipment by harm reduction organizations.
    • Harm Reduction: Programs or services aimed at reducing the negative consequences of substance use, which may include drug checking, naloxone distribution, and education on overdose reporting protections.

  2. Legal Permissions:

    • Individuals may obtain, possess, purchase, sell, provide, transport, distribute, and use drug-checking equipment.
    • Individuals may also possess and transport drug paraphernalia or a nominal amount of controlled substances for harm reduction purposes.

Impact

  • Who is Affected:

    • Organizations that provide harm reduction services will benefit from the legal ability to use drug-checking equipment and paraphernalia.
    • Individuals who use substances may have increased access to testing tools that can help reduce the risks associated with substance use.

  • Potential Benefits:

    • The bill aims to improve public health outcomes by enabling safer practices among substance users and reducing the risks of overdose and substance-related harm.

Legislative Timeline

  • February 19, 2025: Bill introduced and referred to Health and Human Services.
  • February 20, 2025: Subcommittee meeting held; members include Barker, Bradley, and Brown-Powers.
  • February 24, 2025: Subcommittee recommends passage.
  • February 26, 2025: Committee report recommending passage; committee vote results: Yeas 19, Nays 0, Excused 2.
  • February 28, 2025: Committee report approving the bill, renumbered as HF 699.

This summary provides a clear understanding of HF 487's intent, provisions, and potential impact on harm reduction efforts related to substance use.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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