‘Gage’s Law’ mandating fentanyl testing ready for Governor’s signature

The House and Senate have unanimously approved measures that would require hospitals to test for fentanyl in cases of suspected overdose or poisoning.

The bill (HB 1195, SB 1346), also known as “Gage’s Law,” was presented by Boca Raton Democratic Sen. Tina Scott Polsky and Orlando Democratic Rep. Rita Harris.

Gage’s Law was named in memory of Gage Austin Taylor, a 29-year-old Orlando man who had his life cut short in 2022 after he unknowingly consumed a substance that was laced with fentanyl.

After being given an opioid antagonist at the hospital, Gage was sent home without being tested for fentanyl, which can stay in the system longer than the antagonist and ultimately resulted in his death.

The bill would require health care professionals to test the patient’s urine for fentanyl use, which would ensure consistent lifesaving care across Florida. Campus emergency departments would also be required to test urine and follow up testing would further be required.

If test results show positive for fentanyl, the results of the test and screenings would need to be preserved as part of the patient’s clinical record.

Gage’s mother, Gretchin Murray, has since become a fentanyl awareness activist, participating in the Empty Chair Campaign.

“Fentanyl tears apart communities by claiming lives too soon, leaving families shattered and filling Florida families with grief and helplessness,” Polsky said in a statement. “I have been honored to work with Representative Harris, Gage’s mother Gretchin, and countless other advocates to pass Gage’s Law, which takes the next step in combating the ongoing fentanyl crisis.”

Florida currently has the second-highest number of fentanyl-related deaths in the U.S. The drug claimed the lives of almost 5,000 Floridians in 2022 alone. Gage’s Law aims to equip health care workers and law enforcement with the tools needed to detect and combat the growing epidemic.

“I am grateful for the passage of Gage’s Law, a bill that will make a difference and save lives,” Rep. Harris said in a statement. “This policy will equip hospitals with the guidance they need to treat fentanyl overdoses, while giving law enforcement the tools to hold those who lace substances with fentanyl accountable, all in the honor of those we’ve lost due to this crisis.”

The bill is now awaiting the signature of the Governor and would take effect from July 1.