Governor Abbott signs fentanyl legislation into law
Governor Abbott signs measures to combat the fentanyl crisis.
June 14, 2023 | Austin, TX
Governor Greg Abbott signed four pieces of legislation today to combat the fentanyl crisis. In 2022, more than 2,000 Texans lost their lives because of fentanyl. It is the number one killer of Americans between the ages of 18-45. The Governor made fighting the fentanyl epidemic one of his emergency items for the 88th Texas Legislative Session.
What is fentanyl?
According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), fentanyl is a deadly synthetic opioid that is being cut into heroin, cocaine, and other street drugs to drive addiction. Cartels are making fentanyl and pressing it into fake pills that contain no legitimate medicine. It is also being made to look like candy. Lab testing reveals that six out of every ten fake pills with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose. Download the Fentanyl Fact Sheet.
Before signing the bills, Governor Abbott said, “Today I’m signing four new laws that include laws to educate young Texans on the dangers of fentanyl, provide more NARCAN to our colleges and universities, and prosecute fentanyl deaths for what they are - murders. With the signing of HB 6, fentanyl poisoning now will be a murder in Texas.”
NARCAN is a life-saving medication that can reverse opioid overdose when given in time. It can be administered without medical training or authorization.
Governor Abbott signed the following bills into law:
HB 6 - Makes it clear that any person who causes a death by unlawfully manufacturing or delivering fentanyl can be prosecuted for murder in the state of Texas. It enhances criminal penalties and requires proper acknowledgement on death certificates by requiring the death to be designated as caused by fentanyl poisoning or fentanyl toxicity. Montgomery County Representative Ernest Bailes (HD 18) was a coauthor of this bill.
HB 3908 - Known as “Tucker’s Law,” this new law requires schools to provide instruction on fentanyl abuse and prevention and drug poisoning awareness to students in grades six through 12. Tucker’s Law is named after Tucker Roe who passed away at 19 years old after consuming a fentanyl-laced Percocet pill purchased from a peer on social media. Among others, Governor Abbott thanked Montgomery County Senator Brandon Creighton (SD 4) for getting the bill to his desk.
HB 3144 - Designates October as Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month to promote activities educating the community on the dangers of fentanyl and fentanyl poisonings.
SB 867 - Authorizes the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to partner with Texas colleges and universities to provide NARCAN on our campuses. This will make a life-saving tool readily available in areas where fentanyl can be found laced onto other medications.
After the signing, Stephanie Turner, founder of Texas Against Fentanyl and mother of Tucker Roe (HB 3908), shared that fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. “We currently are at war and our children are casualties of this war,” she said. “Tucker’s Law isn’t for my son. It’s for every living son and daughter to educate them and prevent other parents from having to live in grief.”
Governor responds to special session questions regarding property tax standoff
During the question and answer portion of the signing, Governor Abbott responded to concerns expressed about the lack of progress on property tax relief in the current special session by saying, “There will be no future Texas special sessions unless and until the Texas Senate and the Texas House get together and come up with an agreement about how we are going to implement $17.6 billion and cutting property taxes on Texans and what they have to pay every year.
“My last day to sign or veto bills is this Sunday [June 18]. As we get closer and closer to this Sunday, all of these bills that have yet to be signed face the possibility if not the probability that they’re going to be vetoed.”
Follow this link for the latest list of vetoed bills.