Panel divides over wider fentanyl penalties; Senate Judiciary rejects expanded felony measure

Senate Bill 44, a proposal to increase penalties for fentanyl possession, distribution and manufacture, produced sharply divided testimony and emotional appeals from families who have lost children to counterfeit pills. After an extended hearing that included law enforcement, public‑health experts, addiction specialists and numerous family members, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 3‑4 to reject the measure in committee.

Sponsor Sen. Tim Peltonbee framed the bill as a tool to target drug dealers and cartel activity, reduce street availability of fentanyl and give prosecutors a stronger statutory basis to pursue large‑scale distributors. “This bill takes fentanyl and moves the drug to a class‑1 drug felony if anybody is manufacturing, dispensing, selling or possessing with intent to do the same,” Peltonbee told the committee, and described multiple local law‑enforcement requests to strengthen penalties.

Many law‑enforcement witnesses —…