HB 1644
AN ACT relating to the use, possession, delivery, or manufacture of
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
Committee
Not yet assigned
Fiscal Note
Not available
What This Bill Does
This Texas bill creates a legal exemption for individuals and organizations using, possessing, manufacturing, or delivering testing equipment designed to detect fentanyl and its derivatives. The legislation specifically protects people who have such testing equipment from prosecution under existing drug paraphernalia laws, effectively supporting harm reduction efforts by making it easier to identify dangerous fentanyl-related substances. By removing legal barriers to fentanyl testing, the bill aims to help reduce accidental overdoses and improve public health safety.
Bill Text
relating to the use, possession, delivery, or manufacture of testing equipment that identifies the presence of fentanyl, alpha-methylfentanyl, any other derivative of fentanyl, or BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 481.125, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Subsection (j) to read as follows: (j) This section does not apply to a person who uses, possesses with the intent to use, delivers, possesses with intent to deliver, or manufactures with intent to deliver testing equipment that identifies the presence of fentanyl, alpha-methylfentanyl, any other derivative of fentanyl, or SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect at the time the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Bill Sponsors
Legislators who authored or co-sponsored this bill.
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the use, possession, delivery, or manufacture of
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