This bill amends federal grant programs to explicitly allow states and tribes to use opioid use disorder funds for purchasing fentanyl and xylazine test strips.
Jasmine Crockett
Representative
TX-30
The Test Strip Access Act of 2025 amends existing grant programs to explicitly allow states and tribes to use federal funds to purchase fentanyl and xylazine test strips. This change expands the allowable uses of opioid use disorder response grants established under the 21st Century Cures Act. The goal is to ensure these crucial harm-reduction tools are readily accessible for combating the opioid crisis.
Federal Opioid Grants Now Explicitly Cover Fentanyl and Xylazine Test Strips
The Test Strip Access Act of 2025 is a short, sharp piece of legislation that cuts through some federal red tape to help states and tribes fight the opioid crisis. Essentially, it tweaks an existing federal grant program—the one established under the 21st Century Cures Act—to make sure grant money can be used for a specific, life-saving tool: fentanyl and xylazine test strips.
The Fine Print That Matters
Before this change, states and tribes were using these federal funds to address opioid use disorders, but there was often ambiguity about whether harm reduction supplies like test strips were a clearly allowable expense. This bill amends Section 1003(b)(4)(A) of the original Act to explicitly state that grant recipients can use the money to purchase fentanyl and xylazine test strips, provided they are approved by the FDA. This isn't new money, but a clarification on how existing money can be spent.
Why This Is a Big Deal for Public Health
Think of this as giving local public health departments and tribal health services a clear green light to buy essential safety equipment without bureaucratic headaches. For someone struggling with substance use, these test strips are a critical tool. Fentanyl and now xylazine (often called 'tranq') are increasingly showing up in the illicit drug supply, often without the user knowing, leading to devastating overdose rates. By explicitly allowing the use of federal funds for these FDA-approved strips, the bill directly supports harm reduction efforts.
This change matters most to the people on the front lines—the public health workers, outreach teams, and community centers that distribute these supplies. For example, a tribal health organization in a remote area can now confidently budget federal grant dollars to purchase thousands of these strips, increasing access and potentially saving lives by helping users avoid accidental exposure to deadly contaminants. It’s a practical move that leverages existing funding streams to address the immediate, dangerous reality of the current drug supply.