Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Sponsor seeks to treat knowingly distributing fentanyl that causes death as first-degree murder; committee questions mens rea and scope
Summary
Representative Ben Keithley presented House Bill 1045 to escalate knowingly delivering fentanyl that results in death to a first-degree murder charge; committee members expressed concerns about proving intent and the bill's breadth, and an opposition witness suggested felony-murder alternatives.
Representative Ben Keithley presented House Bill 1045, proposing that knowingly delivering or distributing fentanyl or derivatives that cause a death be charged as first-degree murder.
"Someone who knowingly peddles poison that results in the death of someone, especially a child, has committed murder," Keithley said, explaining that the bill aims to hold distributors to a higher culpability when a death results. He cited child fatalities linked to fentanyl and said deaths among children under 5 have risen sharply.
Committee members asked detailed questions about the mens rea…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
