# Plain Language Summary: The DRUGS Act

This bill creates a new system to shut down websites that illegally sell prescription drugs and other controlled substances online. When federal agencies like the FDA, DEA, or state attorneys general discover a website selling drugs illegally, they can notify the company that manages the website's domain name (the web address). That company then has 24 hours to lock the domain—essentially freezing it so it can't be transferred or changed—and seven days to suspend it completely, which disables the website so it stops functioning. Think of it like putting a padlock on a storefront and then boarding it up.

The bill recognizes that legitimate pharmacies might sometimes be wrongly flagged, so it includes an appeal process. If a website owner believes their domain was locked by mistake, they can contact the organization that reported them and provide proof that they're operating legally—such as pharmacy licenses and information about the doctors prescribing the medications. The person or organization that reported the domain then has to investigate whether the report was correct. If the appeal succeeds, the domain gets unlocked within 15 days. While the appeal is being reviewed, the domain stays locked and suspended.

The bill defines "trusted notifiers"—the organizations allowed to report illegal drug sales—as federal agencies (FDA, DEA, Department of Homeland Security), state attorneys general, state pharmacy boards, and certain nonprofits and private companies that work with these agencies. This means a wide range of law enforcement and health officials can trigger domain takedowns, but the system includes safeguards to prevent abuse. The law takes effect 60 days after it's signed, giving website companies time to prepare their systems to comply with the new requirements.

DRUGS Act

McKinley, David B.

Domain Reform for Unlawful Drug Sellers Act or the DRUGS Act This bill requires a website domain name registrar (or registry operator) to take down a domain name under the registrar's control upon receiving an eligible notification that the domain name is facilitating illegal online drug sales. Upon receiving an eligible notification, the registrar must lock the domain name within 24 hours and suspend the domain name within seven days. An eligible notification must come from a trusted notifier and include certain information, such as a summary of the alleged illegal activities and a statement that the evidence supporting the allegations is available to be shared with the registrar. The bill defines trusted notifiers as (1) certain government agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration or the office of a state attorney general; and (2) qualifying private or nonprofit entities given such status by specified government agencies. The registrant of the affected domain name may appeal a lock or suspension by providing the trusted notifier with information to establish that the registrant's drug sales are legal, such as pharmacy licenses and the licensing information of the prescribing medical practitioners, if applicable. The trusted notifier must conduct a reasonable investigation and consider the information provided by the registrant. If the appeal is successful, the registrar must reverse the lock and suspension within 15 days. The domain name must remain locked and suspended while the appeal is pending.