HR 8663 United States House · 118th Congress

DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act of 2024

HR 8663, the DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act of 2024, requires the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate to develop improved detection tools for low-concentration drugs like fentanyl and xylazine. It mandates research into portable equipment for field use, technology to separate complex drug mixtures, and machine learning tools to identify new synthetic substances. These advancements aim to help federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies more accurately detect dangerous drugs during investigations. The bill specifically targets enhancing safety and effectiveness for agencies already handling drug evidence, without changing drug laws or regulations.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics: Drug Policy Law Enforcement

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jun 2024

Committee Review

Dec 2024

House Passage

Dec 2024

Senate Passage

Dec 2024

Signed into Law

Dec 2024

Introduced Jun 7, 2024 Signed Dec 23, 2024

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Engrossed in House → Enrolled Bill · 5 edits

MODERATE

The Enrolled version narrows the bill's focus from detecting, identifying, and disrupting drugs to just detecting and identifying them. It adds a requirement for coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration, broadens the sources used to set research priorities by including DHS threat assessments alongside DEA reports, and adds a rule of construction protecting existing agency authority over drug equipment and reference libraries.

SCOPE

Removed 'and disrupt' from the section heading and removed 'or the disruption of drug trafficking' from the main provision, narrowing the bill's focus to detection and identification only rather than also targeting disruption of trafficking operations.

Removed 'but not limited to' from the list of equipment types (portable detection equipment, etc.), making the scope of covered equipment more specific rather than open-ended.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement that research, development, testing, evaluation, and cost-benefit analyses be carried out 'in coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration.'

Expanded the sources for setting research priorities from only the DEA State and Territory Report to a three-part list that also includes the latest Homeland Threat Assessment published by DHS and any successor documents.

TECHNICAL

Added a new Section 4 (Rule of Construction) stating that nothing in the Act limits the authority of agencies currently managing, overseeing, or otherwise involved in drug equipment and reference libraries.

Floor votes · House Dec 18, 2024

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Dec 23, 2024

Signed into law

Signed by President.

executive

Dec 18, 2024

Introduced

On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 404 - 1 (Roll no. 514). (text: CR H7335-7336)

lower

Dec 18, 2024

Lower · Passed

Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 404 - 1 (Roll no. 514). (text: CR H7335-7336)

lower

Dec 18, 2024

Introduced

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments to H.R. 8663.

lower

Dec 18, 2024

Introduced

Mr. Green (TN) moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments. (consideration: CR H7335-7337, H7340-7341)

lower

Dec 12, 2024

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S7041)

upper

Dec 12, 2024

Upper · Passed

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.

upper

Dec 12, 2024

Upper · Passed

Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.

upper

Sep 10, 2024

Committee

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

upper

Sep 9, 2024

Lower · Passed

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5064)

lower

Aug 23, 2024

Lower · Passed

Reported by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 118-634.

lower

Jun 12, 2024

Lower · Passed

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

lower

Jun 12, 2024

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology Discharged

lower

Jun 7, 2024

Committee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology.

lower

Jun 7, 2024

Committee

Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.

lower

Jun 7, 2024

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors