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Senate rejects bill creating drug-induced homicide offense after extended debate
Summary
Senators debated a first substitute to SB254 that would have made certain sellers of fentanyl and other opioids eligible for a drug-induced homicide charge when a purchaser dies. After extended floor argument over public-safety risks and prosecutorial needs, the measure failed 3–21 with 5 absent.
A proposed new criminal offense to hold drug sellers accountable when a user fatally overdoses failed on the Utah Senate floor after extensive debate.
Senator Weiler, the bill sponsor, said prosecutors asked for the change in response to a surge in fentanyl deaths. He presented a first substitute that removed broader "contributed to" language and narrowed culpability to those who "cause" a death. "So what this bill does is it says... if you're selling fentanyl or... another opioid and somebody dies that you can be charged with... a drug induced…
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