A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the STRONGER Act. It updates the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. The legislation reauthorizes the residential substance use disorder treatment program. It allows these programs to use approved medication-assisted treatments and biological products. The bill also sets training requirements for medical staff in prisons and jails. Finally, it authorizes $40,000,000 to be appropriated for each of the fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
Yes
- Scored +7
Does this do more about addiction and overdose deaths?
The bill reauthorizes and expands residential substance use disorder treatment programs in correctional facilities, promoting evidence-based medication-assisted treatments.
- Scored +3
Does this shorten or soften prison sentences?
The bill expands access to substance use disorder treatment programs for pre-trial detainees and incarcerated individuals.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment: Under Section 2(a)(2)(A)(i)(II) and Section 2(a)(4)(D), programs are permitted to use any type of medication or biological product approved to treat substance use disorders. This could benefit individuals by giving them access to evidence-based medical treatments during their care.
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Staff Training on Addiction Science: Under Section 2(a)(3)(E), which adds section 1902(g) to the act, chief medical officers and appropriate staff in prisons or jails must complete training on the science of addiction, withdrawal management, and treatment strategies. This might improve the quality of care provided by facility officials.
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Continuity of Care After Release: Under Section 2(a)(3)(E), which adds section 1902(h) to the act, any entity receiving federal funds for medication-assisted treatment must affiliate with a provider who can prescribe medications and discuss treatment options after a patient is released. This can help individuals maintain their treatment progress when they return to the community.
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Availability for Pre-Trial Detainees: Under Section 2(a)(4)(A), which amends section 1904(c), jail-based substance use disorder treatment programs may be made available to individuals who are awaiting trial or in pre-trial detention, as well as those serving a sentence. This allows a broader group of people in local jails to access treatment services.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Training and Administrative Burdens: Under Section 2(a)(3)(E), adding section 1902(g), facilities must ensure that key medical staff complete specific and detailed training to remain eligible for funds. If facilities struggle to meet these educational mandates, it could potentially impact their funding or ability to run the programs.
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Provider Affiliation Mandates: Under Section 2(a)(3)(E), adding section 1902(h), funded entities must maintain an affiliation with an outside provider who can prescribe medications and discuss alternatives post-release. Entities that face challenges partnering with external community providers might experience administrative hurdles in complying with this requirement.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Does this do more about addiction and overdose deaths? — The bill reauthorizes and expands residential substance use disorder treatment programs in correctional facilities, promoting evidence-based medication-assisted treatments.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this shorten or soften prison sentences? — The bill expands access to substance use disorder treatment programs for pre-trial detainees and incarcerated individuals.
- 9/28/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/24/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Introduced in Senate
Sheldon WhitehouseDemocrat · Rhode Island