H.R. 8499: Saving Lives on Campuses Act of 2026

This bill, known as the Saving Lives on Campuses Act of 2026, aims to require public institutions of higher education to provide access to opioid overdose rescue kits on their campuses. Here are the key components of the bill:

Requirements for Institutions

• **Implementation Timeline**: Public colleges and universities must ensure availability of these kits within one year after the bill is enacted.
• **Kit Availability**: Each institution must have opioid overdose rescue kits accessible in various locations, including:
  • Classrooms
  • Libraries
  • Laboratories
  • Dormitories and dining facilities
  • Any other facility used for instructional or research purposes, or for housing students, faculty, and staff.
• If a facility has an automated external defibrillator (AED), the overdose rescue kit should be placed near the AED when feasible.
• Kits must also be carried by personnel who provide emergency medical services on campus.
• The location of each kit must be registered with the campus health center or emergency services.

Additional Responsibilities

Institutions are required to:

• Replace any used or expired kits as needed.
• Provide a list of kit locations through the campus health center or emergency services.
• Offer training on how to use the kits and their locations during student orientation programs.

Definitions

• **Institutions of Higher Education**: These are defined according to the Higher Education Act of 1965.
• **Opioid Overdose Rescue Kit**: This is a kit labeled as Overdose Rescue Kit—Naloxone Nasal Spray or similar, containing medications such as:
  • Narcan
  • Naloxone
  • Other FDA-approved medications that negate or neutralize opioid effects.

Goals of the Bill

The main goal of the bill is to enhance the safety of college campuses by ensuring that resources are available to respond to opioid overdoses effectively, ultimately saving lives among students and staff. This legislative action reflects an acknowledgment of the ongoing opioid crisis and aims to equip educational institutions with the means to address such emergencies in a timely manner.

Relevant Companies

• NOK (Nokia Corporation) - Nokia could be involved if they provide communication technologies that aid emergency services responding to opioid overdoses on campus.
• ADBE (Adobe Inc.) - Adobe may be involved in software solutions that help manage training materials and resources for institutions regarding the use of opioid overdose kits.
• AXP (American Express Company) - American Express could be connected through potential funding programs for educational institutions to help implement these measures.