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Bill

Bill

A 6481

Permits certain persons to leave behind opioid antagonists at the location of a known or suspected opioid overdose

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Keith Brown and 4 co-sponsors

Bill A 6481 allows trained individuals to leave opioid antagonists at overdose sites, boosting community response and potentially saving lives from opioid overdoses.

REFERRED TO HEALTH
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 6481

Summary of Bill A 6481

Bill Information

  • Bill Number: A 6481
  • Title: Permits certain persons to leave behind opioid antagonists at the location of a known or suspected opioid overdose
  • Status: Referred to Health
  • Introduced: March 05, 2025
  • Classification: Bill

Purpose and Intent

Bill A 6481 aims to address the ongoing opioid crisis by allowing specific individuals to leave behind opioid antagonists—medications that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose—at locations where known or suspected overdoses have occurred. The intent is to increase the availability of these life-saving medications in communities, potentially reducing the number of fatalities associated with opioid overdoses.

Key Provisions

  • Authorization to Leave Opioid Antagonists: The bill permits designated individuals, such as first responders, healthcare professionals, or trained community members, to leave opioid antagonists at the scene of an overdose.
  • Training Requirements: Individuals authorized to leave behind these medications may be required to undergo training on how to properly administer the opioid antagonists and recognize the signs of an overdose.
  • Liability Protection: The bill may include provisions that protect individuals from legal liability when they leave opioid antagonists in good faith at overdose sites, encouraging more people to participate in overdose prevention efforts.

Affected Parties

  • First Responders and Healthcare Professionals: These individuals will have the authority to leave opioid antagonists at overdose sites, enhancing their ability to respond to opioid emergencies.
  • Community Members: Trained community members will also be empowered to act in overdose situations, potentially increasing the number of individuals equipped to save lives.
  • Individuals at Risk of Overdose: The bill directly benefits those at risk of opioid overdose by increasing access to opioid antagonists in critical situations.

Procedural Aspects

  • Current Status: As of March 5, 2025, the bill has been referred to the Health Committee for further consideration.
  • Related Legislation: This bill is related to A 9789 from the prior legislative session, which may provide context or additional measures regarding opioid overdose prevention.

Conclusion

Bill A 6481 represents a proactive approach to combatting the opioid crisis by facilitating the availability of opioid antagonists in emergency situations. By empowering trained individuals to leave these medications at overdose sites, the bill seeks to enhance community response capabilities and ultimately save lives. Further discussions and evaluations will occur as the bill progresses through the legislative process.

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

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