Establishes the fentanyl abuse and overdose prevention task force

Latest action Mar 25, 2026

Establishes the fentanyl abuse and overdose prevention task force to conduct a comprehensive study on fentanyl abuse and overdose prevention and to report on the findings and recommendations of the task force.

Not chosen yet

Where it stands

Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

New York State Senate

Same as A3129, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Committee

Alcoholism and Drug Abuse · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Alcoholism And Substance Use Disorders · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

Establishes the Fentanyl Abuse and Overdose Prevention Task Force.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateMar 25, 2026Result: passed
(59) (0) (0) (4)
Vote: Committee vote · Alcoholism And Substance Use Disorders
Senate Alcoholism And Substance Use DisordersMar 5, 2026Result: passed
(7) (0) (0) (0)
Vote: Committee vote · Alcoholism And Substance Use Disorders
Senate Alcoholism And Substance Use DisordersMay 22, 2025Result: passed
(7) (0) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Jake Ashby, Jo Anne Simon and 4 more on Agora

Democratic4
Republican2

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Jessica Scarcella-Spanton says this is needed

With the heightened trafficking of fentanyl and the spike in overdoses due to laced fentanyl coming into the United States it is necessary for a statewide taskforce to be implemented. While pharmaceutical fentanyl is a synthetic opioid dispensed for treatment of severe pain, most Fentanyl overdose deaths are related to opioids mixed with heroin or cocaine, often without the user's knowledge. Additionally, deadly amounts of fentanyl are often added to other counterfeit pills being sold as Xanax or oxycodone. These illegally made drugs are sold on the drug market relatively cheaply, which is why so many individuals with a substance use disorder can afford these drugs. Overdose deaths involving these synthetic opioids have increased at an alarming rate. The pandemic has further exacerbated. The situation, and though naloxone, which can overturn an overdose if caught in time, the overdose deaths continue to rise. The purpose of the Fentanyl Task Force is to examine current abuse and overdose trends, discuss ways to expand awareness about the severity of using fentanyl illegally, promote access and availability of treatment for substance use disorders and examine the expansion and distribution of naloxone. The Task Force shall also prioritize, along with the District Attorney's Association of New York State, the prosecution of fentanyl drug dealers, especially those who provide these fentanyl-laced drugs to victims who die from ingesting them.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Full history

Mar 25, 2026
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Mar 25, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Mar 25, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG ABUSE
NY Assembly
Mar 10, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Mar 9, 2026
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate

Show full history (6 earlier events)

Mar 5, 2026
1ST Report CAL.471
1ST REPORT CAL.471
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG ABUSE
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS
NY Senate
May 22, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
Jan 28, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS
NY Senate
Jan 23, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG ABUSE
NY Assembly

About this record

Summary: The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
Cosponsors: The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Party colors: Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Nov 1, 2026. About our data

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.

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