Heinrich’s HALT Fentanyl Act heads to White House

Bill to permanently schedule fentanyl-related substances draws praise from local law enforcement

Organ Mountain News report

LAS CRUCES - U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich’s bipartisan HALT Fentanyl Act is now headed to President Biden’s desk after passing both chambers of Congress. The legislation would permanently classify fentanyl-related substances (FRS) as Schedule I drugs — giving law enforcement broader authority to prosecute trafficking cases.

The bill, co-sponsored by Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), aims to close loopholes that allow traffickers to skirt prosecution by tweaking the chemical makeup of synthetic opioids.

Local support from Doña Ana County officials

Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story welcomed the bill’s passage, saying fentanyl has fueled rising crime, homelessness and quality-of-life issues in the city.

“I firmly believe fentanyl has been the biggest driver of these issues,” Story said. “It is time to take meaningful action to reverse the harm caused by this illicit substance.”

Doña Ana County Sheriff Kim Stewart also backed the legislation, calling it “a multi-layered approach” that balances enforcement with flexibility for medical and scientific research.

What the bill does

The HALT Fentanyl Act would:

• Make the DEA’s temporary 2018 classification of fentanyl-related substances permanent
• Create mandatory minimum sentences for trafficking 10g or more of FRS
• Allow scientists more flexibility to study Schedule I substances under approved research protocols

In 2023, the CDC estimated 107,543 overdose deaths nationwide. Fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances were involved in nearly 75,000 of those deaths — more than two-thirds of the total. Officials say traffickers continue to tweak fentanyl’s chemical structure to avoid prosecution, contributing to the crisis.

Federal agents seized nearly 12,000 pounds of fentanyl in 2023 — including more than 78 million counterfeit pills — representing over 388 million potential lethal doses, according to the DEA.

What’s next

The bill now awaits President Trump’s signature. Heinrich urged swift action, saying the legislation will help prosecutors build “stronger, longer-term criminal cases” and get dangerous drugs off New Mexico streets.

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