LOUISVILLE, Ky. — This week, Kentucky lawmakers will consider a bill that supporters say will help save lives. 

House Bill 353 adds a section stating that certain testing equipment used to determine if a substance has something deadly in it — including fentanyl test strips — won’t be considered drug paraphernalia. 

The bipartisan bill is sponsored by Rep. Kim Moser, R-Taylor Mill and Rep. Rachel Roberts, D-Newport. 

A state report shows that in 2021, fentanyl was involved in nearly 73% of drug overdose deaths in Kentucky.

Jennifer Hancock, president and CEO of Volunteers of America Mid-States, said the bill would allow her organization and others in addiction recovery to give out the strips. 

"We have individuals who are on various paths towards recovery and giving them this life-saving ability to know what they’re using before they make that decision is really important to the people that we serve," she said. 

The bill is backed by Kentucky Smart on Crime, a coalition working on criminal justice reform, including Volunteers of America Mid-States and the ACLU of Kentucky.  

“What we’re having is that harm reduction centers and other places that want to give out fentanyl testing strips know that they fit the definition of the statute and so sometimes they’re leery of handing them out," said Kungu Njuguna, policy strategist with the ACLU of Kentucky. "This just clarifies the law, makes it clear so that people can hand these test strips out to save lives.. Roberts provided the following statement about the bill: 

"We cannot get folks into recovery if they die of an overdose. Clarifying the paraphernalia language to allow for fentanyl testing strips is a tool to help prevent overdose deaths and guide Kentuckians in need to treatment." 

The bill also requires the state to conduct a fentanyl education and awareness campaign. 

The House Judiciary committee is expected to vote on this bill on Wednesday.