Saving Lives on Campuses Act of 2026
HB8499, the “Saving Lives on Campuses Act of 2026,” would require public institutions of higher education that receive federal Higher Education Act funds to make opioid overdose rescue kits available on campus within one year of enactment. The bill directs the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to establish the requirement and defines the kits to include naloxone-based products such as Narcan or other FDA-approved medications that reverse opioid effects.
The bill specifies where kits must be placed, including classrooms, libraries, laboratories, dormitories, dining facilities, and other instructional, research, or student-housing spaces. Where feasible, kits should be located near automated external defibrillators, and they must also be carried by campus emergency medical services personnel. Institutions must register kit locations with the campus health center or emergency medical services, replace used or expired kits, maintain a list of locations, and provide training on kit use and location during student orientation.
If enacted, the bill would create a new federal condition for public colleges and universities that receive Higher Education Act funding, effectively standardizing campus opioid overdose preparedness across states. It would not directly amend state statutes, but it would impose operational requirements on affected institutions, including inventory, placement, registration, replacement, and training obligations related to naloxone or similar overdose-reversal medications.
Based on the bill’s subject matter and the absence of recorded opposition or votes in the provided materials, the measure appears to be framed as a public health and campus safety initiative with a generally protective, prevention-oriented purpose. The title and structure suggest support for expanding access to life-saving overdose reversal tools in higher education settings, and there is no committee transcript or vote history indicating organized resistance in the available record.
The main potential points of contention are likely to involve federal oversight of campus operations, the cost and logistics of placing and maintaining kits in many campus locations, and how broadly the mandate should apply to public institutions receiving federal funds. Another possible issue is implementation detail, including whether institutions already have comparable policies, how training would be delivered, and whether the requirement to place kits near AEDs or on EMS personnel is feasible in all campus settings. No specific objections are documented in the provided materials.