HERO Act
Latest action (21 Jul 2026): Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 48 - 0.
What this bill does
H.R. 7994, the HERO Act, would create a competitive grant program run by the Department of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Education, to help schools obtain FDA-approved opioid overdose reversal drugs. Grant recipients would use the funds to purchase these drugs and to develop educational programming on CPR, drug-use prevention, and overdose response. Applicants would also need to work with local health departments to create emergency response plans for school staff. Grants would last one year, with priority given to schools in areas with high rates of opioid overdoses. Recipients would report on their use of funds, and HHS would report annually to Congress summarizing results.
The bill affects private elementary and secondary schools, public school districts (local educational agencies), and charter schools that qualify as local educational agencies. Separately, any such school receiving federal funds would be required to report incidents of opioid overdose reversal drug distribution to two existing federal/regional data systems—NEMSIS and ODMAP—within 90 days of enactment.
The bill was introduced in March 2026 by Rep. Raul Ruiz and referred to the House Committees on Energy and Commerce and Education and Workforce. It has since been "Ordered to be Reported" as amended by a 48-0 vote, meaning a committee has approved it and it can now move toward consideration by the full House. It has not yet been voted on by the House or Senate, or signed into law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Helping Educators Respond to Overdoses Act or the HERO Act
This bill establishes a grant program to provide schools with opioid overdose reversal drugs and requires reporting related to the distribution of such drugs.
First, the bill requires the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to award competitive grants to eligible entities for (1) purchasing approved opioid overdose reversal drugs; and (2) developing and implementing educational programming or resources to promote student and community knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, drug-use prevention and intervention, and emergency responses to drug overdoses. Eligible entities include private elementary and secondary schools, local educational agencies (LEAs), charter schools that are LEAs, and consortia of LEAs.
Second, the bill requires a covered educational institution (i.e., a private school, LEA, or charter school that is an LEA) that receives federal funds to submit a description of any distribution of an opioid overdose reversal drug by such institution to the National Emergency Medical Services Information System and the Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program of the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.
Timeline
21 Jul 2026
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 48 - 0.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 7994 do?
- H.R. 7994, the HERO Act, would create a competitive grant program run by the Department of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Education, to help schools obtain FDA-approved opioid overdose reversal drugs. Grant recipients would use the funds to purchase these drugs and to develop educational programming on CPR, drug-use prevention, and overdose response. Applicants would also need to work with local health departments to create emergency response plans for school staff. Grants would last one year, with priority given to schools in areas with high rates of opioid overdoses. Recipients would report on their use of funds, and HHS would report annually to Congress summarizing results. The bill affects private elementary and secondary schools, public school districts (local educational agencies), and charter schools that qualify as local educational agencies. Separately, any such school receiving federal funds would be required to report incidents of opioid overdose reversal drug distribution to two existing federal/regional data systems—NEMSIS and ODMAP—within 90 days of enactment. The bill was introduced in March 2026 by Rep. Raul Ruiz and referred to the House Committees on Energy and Commerce and Education and Workforce. It has since been "Ordered to be Reported" as amended by a 48-0 vote, meaning a committee has approved it and it can now move toward consideration by the full House. It has not yet been voted on by the House or Senate, or signed into law.
- Has H.R. 7994 become law?
- Not yet. As of 21 Jul 2026, H.R. 7994 is ordered reported.
- Who sponsored H.R. 7994?
- H.R. 7994 was sponsored by Rep. Raul Ruiz [D-CA25] (Democrat-CA), with 1 cosponsor.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 7994?
- Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 48 - 0. (21 Jul 2026).
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