Venkat, Flick’s bipartisan legislation to raise awareness on opioid overdoses and save lives passes House with a near unanimous vote
Rep. Arvind Venkat April 22, 2025 | 3:24 PM
HARRISBURG, April 22 – State Reps. Arvind Venkat and Jamie Flick’s bipartisan bill that would create and disseminate materials integral to recognizing the signs of an opioid overdose and inform Pennsylvanians how to save the lives of their fellow citizens passed the Pennsylvania House 195-8 today.
House Bill 269 would require PA’s Department of Health to develop a poster explaining:
- the signs of an opioid-related overdose.
- what to do in the event of an opioid-related overdose.
- where to find an opioid antagonist such as Naloxone.
- where to find additional resources and information.
The poster would be made available online to download for private use and displayed in public places to increase awareness of how to recognize and respond to opioid-related overdoses.
“The adage that ‘a little knowledge goes a long way’ may not be put into practice more profoundly than when it comes to saving someone’s life,” Venkat, D-Allegheny, said. “Our legislation does exactly that and seeks to limit the future harm of a deadly and still ongoing opioid epidemic.
“Rep. Flick has been a great partner on this legislation, and I want to thank him and my House colleagues for their support. I also want to thank the Stop the Judgment Project, led by neighbors of mine in Franklin Park. I remain committed to doing everything in my power to honor the memory of those who have lost their lives in the opioid epidemic by turning this bill into law.”
“Awareness and education are key in potentially lifesaving efforts against opioid overdose. Posters are a simple and effective way to share information, and our legislation puts this effort into motion,” Flick, R-Lycoming, added. “I'm grateful that Rep. Venkat shares this passion and spearheaded the efforts to create and pass House Bill 269.”
Flick is one of only two state representatives to serve on the PA Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust’s Board of Trustees. The group works with the commonwealth’s attorney general to distribute $1 billion in settlement funds to state entities working to abate the opioid crisis.
A similar bill passed the state House 187-14 in the previous legislative session, and an example of the proposed poster outlined in the bill can be found here.
The legislation now moves to the Senate for consideration.