Bills · HR 5844
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 5844Health
Harm Reduction Through Community Engagement Act of 2025
INTRO OCT 28· LAST ACTION OCT 28
READING
5MIN
COSPONSORS
0
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because it attempts to balance the critical need for opioid addiction treatment with concerns about how these facilities impact local neighborhoods. If passed, it would fundamentally change how opioid treatment programs are established and run, giving communities more power to influence where and how these services operate. This could lead to a reduction in neighborhood complaints often associated with treatment centers, such as loitering or public drug use.
However, it could also create new barriers to opening much-needed treatment facilities, especially in areas with limited suitable locations due to the proposed proximity restrictions. Voters concerned about community safety and local control would care about the strengthened community engagement provisions, while those prioritizing broad, easy access to addiction treatment might be concerned about the potential for increased hurdles or reduced availability of services.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Opioid treatment programs cannot be located within half a mile of public or private licensed day care centers, schools, learning centers, playgrounds, or other drug treatment facilities.
This aims to reduce potential negative impacts on sensitive community areas and prevent an overconcentration of treatment facilities.
PROVISION 02
Opioid treatment programs must conduct community outreach, establish community advisory boards with local volunteers, and develop neighborhood engagement and community relations plans.
This gives local residents and groups a direct voice in the operation and impact of treatment centers, helping address neighborhood concerns.
PROVISION 03
Applicants for opioid treatment programs must justify the patient need for treatment in the specific community where they wish to operate.
This ensures that programs are strategically located where they are most needed, improving resource allocation.
PROVISION 04
Opioid treatment programs must actively promote the use of telehealth services and report detailed treatment performance measurement data to the Secretary and Congress.
This could improve patient access and convenience while providing federal oversight bodies with crucial information on treatment effectiveness and community impact.
PROVISION 05
Each opioid treatment program must designate a community liaison and work with or establish a local government customer relationship management system to track drug abuse service requests.
This creates direct communication channels between treatment centers, local officials, and law enforcement, and provides data on community-level drug abuse issues.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 0
D· New York
YRS IN OFFICE
9
BILLS LED
47
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSOCT 28
Introduced in House
OCT 28
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 5844
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedOct 28, 2025
Last actionOct 28, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · JUDICIARY COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED OCT 28, 2025
House BillHR 5844Health
Harm Reduction Through Community Engagement Act of 2025
INTRODUCED OCT 28, 2025· LAST ACTION OCT 28, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
5 min
COSPONSORS
0
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
