DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act of 2024
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (4 Dec 2024): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
What this bill does
S. 5426, the DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act of 2024, would amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to expand the duties of the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate. Specifically, it directs the Directorate to work with the Drug Enforcement Administration on research, testing, and cost-benefit analyses aimed at improving equipment and reference libraries used to detect drugs such as fentanyl and xylazine. This includes developing portable detection devices requiring minimal sample handling, equipment able to separate complex drug mixtures for field identification, and tools using artificial intelligence or machine learning to predict whether unknown substances are new psychoactive substances not yet catalogued.
The bill primarily affects the Department of Homeland Security and the Drug Enforcement Administration, which would coordinate this research effort, as well as federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies that would eventually use improved detection equipment. In carrying out this work, the Under Secretary for Science and Technology would be required to follow NIST's AI Risk Management Framework and to set research priorities based on current federal threat assessments, including DHS's Homeland Threat Assessment and DEA's State and Territory Report on Enduring and Emerging Threats. The bill also clarifies that it does not limit the authority of other agencies already involved in managing drug-detection equipment or reference libraries.
The bill was introduced on December 4, 2024, by Senator John Cornyn, with Senators Ossoff and Lankford as cosponsors, and was referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. It did not receive a vote before the end of the 118th Congress, meaning it would need to be reintroduced in a future Congress to be considered further.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Timeline
4 Dec 2024
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Common questions
- What does S. 5426 do?
- S. 5426, the DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act of 2024, would amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to expand the duties of the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate. Specifically, it directs the Directorate to work with the Drug Enforcement Administration on research, testing, and cost-benefit analyses aimed at improving equipment and reference libraries used to detect drugs such as fentanyl and xylazine. This includes developing portable detection devices requiring minimal sample handling, equipment able to separate complex drug mixtures for field identification, and tools using artificial intelligence or machine learning to predict whether unknown substances are new psychoactive substances not yet catalogued. The bill primarily affects the Department of Homeland Security and the Drug Enforcement Administration, which would coordinate this research effort, as well as federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies that would eventually use improved detection equipment. In carrying out this work, the Under Secretary for Science and Technology would be required to follow NIST's AI Risk Management Framework and to set research priorities based on current federal threat assessments, including DHS's Homeland Threat Assessment and DEA's State and Territory Report on Enduring and Emerging Threats. The bill also clarifies that it does not limit the authority of other agencies already involved in managing drug-detection equipment or reference libraries. The bill was introduced on December 4, 2024, by Senator John Cornyn, with Senators Ossoff and Lankford as cosponsors, and was referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. It did not receive a vote before the end of the 118th Congress, meaning it would need to be reintroduced in a future Congress to be considered further.
- Has S. 5426 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 5426. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 5426?
- S. 5426 was sponsored by Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] (R-TX), with 2 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 5426?
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (4 Dec 2024).
Related bills in Science, Technology, Communications
Disaster Communications Coordination and Preparedness Act
Mystic Alerts Act
Bots Research Act
Expressing support for the designation of October 5, 2026, as the "National Beyond the Milky Way Day" and celebrating a transformative achievement in American science.
More bills from Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Lone Star Coastal National Recreation Area Act
STRONGER Act
A resolution expressing support for the designation of the first week of August 2026, as "National Community Health Center Week", encouraging all people of the United States to participate by visiting their local community health center, and celebrating the important partnership between community health centers and the communities they serve.
Depot Data Transparency Act
Bill100 mirrors the public U.S. legislative record from Congress.gov and GovTrack and adds plain-English AI summaries. It is an information tool, not legal, compliance or lobbying advice, and it is not affiliated with the U.S. Congress or any government agency. AI summaries can simplify or omit detail — every bill links to the official source; verify there before you rely on it.