Skip to main content
HR 3489 114th Congress House Crime and Law Enforcement Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation Criminal procedure and sentencing Drug trafficking and controlled substances

Mandatory Minimum Reform Act of 2015

Introduced: September 10, 2015 Introduced by: Waters, Maxine Democratic · California See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 5, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
Sep 11, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Sep 10, 2015
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sep 10, 2015
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Mandatory Minimum Reform Act of 2015

This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to eliminate most drug offense mandatory minimum prison terms imposed on a defendant who imports, exports, manufactures, distributes, or possesses with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

Additionally, it eliminates drug offense mandatory minimum prison terms for simple possession, distribution to an individual under age 21 by an individual under age 18, distribution or manufacture in a school zone, and use of an individual under age 21 to distribute.

Finally, the bill requires prior written approval of the Attorney General to prosecute a defendant for certain drug offenses that involve low-level drug quantities (e.g., less than one kilogram of heroin) or cocaine-based substances.

What's happening now October 5, 2015

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3489: Mandatory Minimum Reform Act of 2015. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-3489/
MLA
"H.R. 3489: Mandatory Minimum Reform Act of 2015." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-3489/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3489, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-3489/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3489: Mandatory Minimum Reform Act of 2015](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-3489/)
Report a problem