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HR 8499

Saving Lives on Campuses Act of 2026

119th Congress Introduced by Lou Correa and 1 co-sponsor

Public colleges receiving HEA funds must place opioid overdose rescue kits (Naloxone) in key campus locations, maintain them, and train students on their use.

Introduced in House
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Bill Summary · HR 8499

Summary of Bill: Saving Lives on Campuses Act of 2026 (H.R. 8499)

Session: 119th Congress | Jurisdiction: United States

Purpose and Intent

  • The bill requires public institutions of higher education that receive federal funds under the Higher Education Act of 1965 to ensure opioid overdose rescue kits are available on campus.
  • Aims to improve immediate response to opioid overdoses by facilitating access to naloxone and related overdose-reversal medications.

Key Provisions

1) Requirement to Provide Opioid Overdose Rescue Kits

  • Effective: Not later than 1 year after enactment.
  • Responsible agencies: Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
  • Requirement: Each public institution of higher education receiving HEA funds must make opioid overdose rescue kits available in specified campus locations.

2) Placement and Accessibility (Location Rules)

  • Kits must be available in:
    • Each classroom facility
    • Library
    • Laboratory facility
    • Dormitory facilities (including dining facilities)
    • Other facilities used for instructional, research, or housing purposes
  • If the facility has an automated external defibrillator (AED) for public use, place the overdose kit near the AED where feasible.
  • Kits should be carried by EMS personnel employed by the institution, as applicable.

3) Registration and Tracking

  • The location of every required kit must be registered with the institution’s health center or campus EMS, as applicable.

4) Ongoing Maintenance and Training

  • Replacement: Institutions must replace used or expired kits on campus as necessary.
  • Information access: Institutions must provide, through the health center or campus EMS, a list of kit locations.
  • Training: Institutions must include training on the use and location of each kit during student orientation programs.

5) Definitions

  • Institution of Higher Education: As defined by section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
  • Opioid Overdose Rescue Kit: A kit labeled “Overdose Rescue Kit—Naloxone Nasal Spray” (or equivalent language approved by HHS) and containing:
    • Narcan
    • Naloxone
    • Or another FDA-approved medication that neutralizes opioid effects.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Public institutions of higher education receiving HEA funds.
  • On-campus students, faculty, and staff who would have access to overdose rescue kits and related training.
  • Campus health centers and campus emergency medical services personnel responsible for implementing and maintaining the program.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

  • Enactment Timeline: The requirement for kit availability is triggered to take effect no later than 1 year after the act’s enactment.
  • Oversight: The Secretary of Education, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, would implement and oversee compliance.
  • Reporting/Registration: Institutions must register kit locations with their health center or campus EMS and maintain an up-to-date inventory.

Practical Implications and Potential Impacts

  • Improved on-site capacity to respond to opioid overdoses on college campuses.
  • Standardized placement of overdose kits across public higher education institutions.
  • Increased awareness and training among new students through orientation requirements.
  • Requires institutions to allocate or reallocate resources for kit procurement, stocking, and training.
  • Potential for data collection through kit location registries to monitor accessibility and usage.

If you’d like, I can compare this bill to existing federal or state campus overdose-response requirements, or provide a jurisdictional impact analysis.

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

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