Safe Disposal of Opioids Act of 2026
Funds disposal sites for unwanted prescription medications through a fee on active opioids, while shielding eligible patients from the fee.
In the House Energy and Commerce Committee since Oct. 1, 2026, 7 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROOCT 1, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- SENATESENATE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
People need ways to get rid of prescription medications they no longer want. The bill would fund grants for disposal sites through a fee on active opioids sold by manufacturers, producers, or importers. It would also keep specified patients from paying the fee amount and limit how much of the grants can go to certain entities.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Fund prescription medication disposal sites
The Attorney General would award grants to covered entities to establish or maintain disposal sites for unwanted prescription medications. No more than 10% of the awards in a fiscal year could go to state, local, or tribal law enforcement agencies or medication manufacturers, distributors, or reverse distributors.
- Charge a fee on active opioids
Manufacturers, producers, or importers would pay a fee of 1 cent per 100 milligrams of active opioids sold. For a product containing an active opioid and another ingredient, the fee would apply only to the opioid portion; drugs used exclusively for medically assisted treatment of opioid addiction would be excluded.
- Protect eligible patients from the fee
HHS would create a way to discount eligible patients’ payments for active opioids so they do not pay any amount attributable to the fee. Eligible patients include people prescribed opioids for cancer-related pain, people in hospice care, and certain representatives or estates when such a patient dies or becomes incapacitated.
- Tie funding to fees collected
The bill would authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 and each later fiscal year, up to the total amount of fees collected, to carry out these provisions.
The bill focuses on how people can dispose of prescription medications they no longer want. It would connect support for disposal sites to a fee on active opioids while aiming to keep specified patients from paying that fee themselves.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedOCT 1, 2026HOUSEOCT 1, 2026By Rep. Bonamici with 1 original cosponsorReferred to Energy and Commerce
- SAME DAYNOWHouse committeeOCT 1, 2026ENERGY & COMMERCE NOWOCT 1, 2026In committee for 7 daysNo hearing yet
- 7 DAYS SO FARPassed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Senate committee—SENATE—
- Passed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- OCT 12026OCT 1, 2026REFERREDHOUSEReferred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- OCT 12026OCT 1, 2026INTRODUCEDHOUSEIntroduced in House
At day 7, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
Where your members stand on it
Support from one state
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Rep. Bonamici’s record: sponsored 69 bills this Congress. 1 passed the House; 0 became law.
- Riley M. MooreR-WV-2ORIGINAL
What readers think
Discussion
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