This bill mandates the widespread availability of opioid antagonist kits, comprehensive training for staff and inmates, and detailed reporting within federal prisons to combat opioid overdoses.
Valerie Foushee
Representative
NC-4
The Federal Prisons Naloxone Access Act of 2025 mandates that the Bureau of Prisons make opioid overdose reversal medication readily available throughout all federal correctional facilities. This bill requires comprehensive training for both staff and incarcerated individuals on administering the medication and recognizing overdoses. Furthermore, it establishes protocols for inventory, documentation of use, and provides liability protection for individuals administering the antidote in good faith.
Federal Prisons Must Stock Naloxone Kits Everywhere: $6M Authorized to Fight Overdoses
The Federal Prisons Naloxone Access Act of 2025 is straightforward: it requires the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to make opioid overdose reversal kits—think Naloxone or Narcan—available throughout every federal correctional facility. This isn’t just about having them in the medical unit; the bill mandates kits be placed in staff breakrooms, visiting areas, dining halls, recreation spaces, and even educational and religious areas. Essentially, any place where people gather needs to be equipped, recognizing that when an overdose hits, seconds count.
The Emergency Kit Mandate: Access Everywhere
This legislation tackles the opioid crisis head-on within federal prisons by treating Naloxone like a fire extinguisher—it needs to be accessible immediately, everywhere. The bill requires the BOP Director to ensure an “adequate number” of these kits are stored safely but accessibly, checked regularly for expiration dates, and maintained out of direct sunlight. For the people inside, this means a much higher chance of survival if they or someone nearby suffers an overdose, as the antidote can be administered before medical staff arrives, which can be critical in a sprawling facility.
Training and Liability: Making Inmates First Responders
One of the most significant changes here is the mandatory training. The BOP medical staff must provide annual training to both prison personnel and incarcerated persons on recognizing an overdose and administering the antagonist. This means inmates are specifically being empowered to save lives. More importantly, the bill grants liability protection to any incarcerated person who administers a kit in good faith. This is a huge deal, removing the fear of legal repercussions for someone trying to help during a medical emergency. It formalizes a life-saving role for the population most likely to be present when an overdose occurs.
The Cost and Accountability Check
To ensure this program actually gets off the ground, the bill authorizes $6 million for fiscal year 2026 to cover the initial purchases, training costs, and reporting setup. Following that, $2 million is authorized for each of fiscal years 2027 and 2028 for maintenance and continued training. This dedicated funding stream is designed to prevent the BOP from claiming they can’t afford the kits or the required training.
Accountability is baked in via an annual report to Congress. The BOP Director must detail how many kits are available at each prison, how many overdoses occurred, how many trainings were conducted, and—crucially—how many kits were allowed to expire. This reporting requirement ensures that the program doesn't just look good on paper but actually delivers the required access and training consistently. While the term “adequate number” of kits is slightly vague and could be interpreted differently across facilities, the detailed reporting requirements should keep the BOP honest about whether they are meeting the spirit of the law.