Senate Approves Bill to Combat Opioid Crisis

SEPTEMBER 19, 2025

Yesterday, Senator Bill Driscoll Jr. (D-Milton) joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate in approving legislation aimed at combating the opioid epidemic by expanding protections for individuals using testing equipment to protect against fentanyl.

“Today the Senate took action to protect some of our most vulnerable residents,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Few responsibilities are more important, and I applaud the Senate for our decisive action today to protect people using testing equipment to protect against fentanyl. I’m grateful to Chair Rodrigues for his committee’s work on this legislation, and to Majority Leader Creem and Chair Edwards for their leadership.”

An Act relative to fentanyl test strips, S.1057, is intended to reduce the tragic toll of overdoses and make life-saving tools accessible to those who need them most. It explicitly exempts fentanyl testing equipment from the list of prohibited drug paraphernalia and expands liability protections to anyone who provides, administers, or uses the tests, including first responders.

“Fentanyl test strips are inexpensive, easy to use, and, most importantly, they are an evidence-based tool that saves lives,” said Senate Majority Leader Cindy Creem (D-Newton), primary sponsor of the legislation. “By making them widely available, Massachusetts can give people one more way to prevent overdoses and protect families from tragedy.”

“This legislation is critical for all first responders and any citizen who steps in to save the life of someone experiencing a fentanyl overdose,” said Senator Lydia Edwards (D-East Boston), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. “While September is reserved for National Recovery Month, it is important to recognize the impact of a bill that can help better protect our loved ones and those working to save lives in our communities. Fentanyl overdoses are devastating and should be treated with utmost precaution. This legislation will add necessary protection for anyone who provides, administers, or uses the test to help a victim. I want to thank Senator Creem for her excellent leadership on this legislation and Senate President Spilka for her support and efforts.”

“The opioid epidemic has been a longstanding tragedy impacting many across the Commonwealth, and across the nation. This effort by the Senate marks its commitment to broadening safety measures that would save the lives of many,” said Driscoll. “Offering protections to those who use or administer fentanyl test strips expands safety options for first responders and those within the harm reduction community, and more importantly, will offer another chance at life for those facing overdose.”

The legislation builds upon a 2024 law that provided criminal and civil liability protections for those in the harm reduction community who provide or use fentanyl test strips in good faith. According to the Department of Public Health, nearly 400,000 fentanyl test strips were distributed in 2024, and fentanyl was present in 88.6% of opioid-related overdose deaths that year. This legislation would expand the liability protections beyond those just in the harm reduction community and ensure police officers who seek to distribute the tests or others acting in good faith are afforded legal protection. A fact sheet with full details of the legislation is available online.

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