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Committee advances "Max’s Law" to require fentanyl and xylazine instruction in schools after family testimony
Summary
The committee released S‑2818 (Max’s Law) after emotional testimony from families and recovery advocates urging mandated instruction about the dangers of fentanyl and xylazine; sponsors said the bill includes committee amendments and will move forward to the full Senate.
Senator Schappizzi introduced S‑2818, known in hearings as "Max’s Law," to require school districts to provide instruction on the dangers of fentanyl and xylazine. The sponsor described consultations with educators and families and presented committee amendments that refine the bill’s reporting and review requirements.
Patrice Lenowicz, the mother of Max, testified about her son’s death and urged legislators to adopt the curriculum requirement. She described losing her son and the difficulty of conveying the current drug threat to young people: she said many pills are counterfeit and carry lethal doses of fentanyl and other contaminants, and recounted campus examples where students discovered fentanyl in pills using on‑campus testing. "We are going to save lives in New Jersey," Lenowicz said, urging lawmakers to act.
Advocates and recovery professionals supported the bill. Nicole Tierney of the National Center for Advocacy and Recovery (NCAR), who spoke about her own recovery, emphasized primary prevention and the need for evidence‑based school instruction. She recommended broad prevention strategies to reach students and reduce stigma.
Committee members thanked family witnesses and public health partners. The committee moved and released S‑2818 with committee amendments; recorded votes were unanimous in favor at the committee stage. Sponsors and advocates urged expedited Senate action, citing the urgency of overdose deaths and the need for school‑based prevention.
