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Fairness in Fentanyl Sentencing Act of 2025

USA119th CongressS-477| Senate 
| Updated: 2/6/2025
John Kennedy

John Kennedy

Republican Senator

Louisiana

Cosponsors (5)
Katie Boyd Britt (Republican)Marsha Blackburn (Republican)Lindsey Graham (Republican)Ted Cruz (Republican)James C. Justice (Republican)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill substantially modifies the penalties for offenses involving fentanyl and its analogues under federal law, significantly reducing the quantity thresholds that trigger higher statutory penalties for manufacturing, distributing, or importing these substances. For instance, the highest penalty tier now applies to 20 grams of fentanyl instead of 400 grams, and 5 grams instead of 100 grams, with similar reductions for lower penalty tiers. These amendments explicitly extend to both scheduled and unscheduled analogues of fentanyl, ensuring broader application of the revised thresholds. The legislation directs the United States Sentencing Commission to review and amend its guidelines and policy statements to ensure consistency with these new, lower fentanyl quantity thresholds. The Commission is granted emergency authority to promulgate these changes within 120 days of the bill's enactment. Furthermore, the bill mandates the Postmaster General to increase the availability of chemical screening devices and dedicate personnel within the U.S. Postal Service to prevent the illegal importation of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, authorizing $9,000,000 for these interdiction efforts.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-878
Fairness in Fentanyl Sentencing Act of 2023
Feb 6, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Feb 6, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-878
    Fairness in Fentanyl Sentencing Act of 2023


  • February 6, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 6, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Crime and Law Enforcement

Administrative law and regulatory proceduresCriminal procedure and sentencingDrug trafficking and controlled substancesPostal serviceTrade restrictionsU.S. Sentencing Commission

Fairness in Fentanyl Sentencing Act of 2025

USA119th CongressS-477| Senate 
| Updated: 2/6/2025
This bill substantially modifies the penalties for offenses involving fentanyl and its analogues under federal law, significantly reducing the quantity thresholds that trigger higher statutory penalties for manufacturing, distributing, or importing these substances. For instance, the highest penalty tier now applies to 20 grams of fentanyl instead of 400 grams, and 5 grams instead of 100 grams, with similar reductions for lower penalty tiers. These amendments explicitly extend to both scheduled and unscheduled analogues of fentanyl, ensuring broader application of the revised thresholds. The legislation directs the United States Sentencing Commission to review and amend its guidelines and policy statements to ensure consistency with these new, lower fentanyl quantity thresholds. The Commission is granted emergency authority to promulgate these changes within 120 days of the bill's enactment. Furthermore, the bill mandates the Postmaster General to increase the availability of chemical screening devices and dedicate personnel within the U.S. Postal Service to prevent the illegal importation of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, authorizing $9,000,000 for these interdiction efforts.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-878
Fairness in Fentanyl Sentencing Act of 2023
Feb 6, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Feb 6, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-878
    Fairness in Fentanyl Sentencing Act of 2023


  • February 6, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 6, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
John Kennedy

John Kennedy

Republican Senator

Louisiana

Cosponsors (5)
Katie Boyd Britt (Republican)Marsha Blackburn (Republican)Lindsey Graham (Republican)Ted Cruz (Republican)James C. Justice (Republican)

Judiciary Committee

Crime and Law Enforcement

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresCriminal procedure and sentencingDrug trafficking and controlled substancesPostal serviceTrade restrictionsU.S. Sentencing Commission