Senate Judiciary hears emotional, divided testimony on SB 14 and SB 15 mandatory-penalty proposals for fentanyl offenses

Sen. Bill Gannon, sponsor of two related bills addressing fentanyl, told the Senate Judiciary Committee that SB 14 and SB 15 are intended to hold sellers accountable and reduce deaths related to fentanyl. "When a person is peddling this poison, they must be prosecuted and taken off of our streets," Gannon said while introducing SB 14 and later SB 15, which would create stiffer mandatory penalties when distribution leads to death.

SB 14, as described at the hearing, would create mandatory minimum terms for certain fentanyl possession and distribution quantities when a defendant has prior convictions: a 3½-year minimum for possessing or distributing 5 grams or more and a 7-year minimum for 28 grams or more were discussed in testimony. SB 15 would impose a mandatory minimum sentence (the bill text discussed by the sponsor set a 10-year term) for distribution of a controlled substance with death resulting.

Supporters included Manchester Mayor Jay Ruway, who described local impacts of the opioid crisis and cited city overdose figures: "By establishing a mandatory minimum sentence of 3 years…