AUSTIN, TX – Today the Fentanyl Child Endangerment Act, HB 166, was sent to the Governor after passing the Texas Senate late last week by a 30-1 vote.

The legislation was developed in coordination with the Tarrant County District Attorney’s office and makes it a felony to expose children or elderly or disabled adults to fentanyl and its derivatives.

“In the wrong hands, fentanyl is not just dangerous, it’s deadly,” said Sen. Kelly Hancock, the bill’s Senate sponsor. “These added protections are designed to give local law enforcement and District Attorneys the tools they need to keep our children and vulnerable adults safe in the ongoing fight against drug-poisoning deaths.”

HB 166 updates a section of the Texas Penal Code that covers methamphetamine endangerment, establishing the same severe penalties for fentanyl-related endangerment. It does not impact medical use of the drug, such as in certain medications used by anesthesiologists.

Fentanyl continues to account for a large percentage of all accidental drug deaths in Texas, including at least 2,300 deaths in 2023. Related data is available to the public on the Department of State Health Services Fentanyl Trends Dashboard.

The Fentanyl Child Endangerment Act will formally become law when signed by Governor Greg Abbott. Once signed, the bill takes effect Sept. 1, 2025.

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