Bipartisan support shown for bills to punish fentanyl dealers if their drugs cause overdose deaths

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Both Republicans and Democrats are looking to hold drug dealers accountable for overdose deaths.

“I have had people close to me that have lost their children,” Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle (R-Hanover) told 8News. 

“There’s nothing like it, this drug that is ravaging our communities,” said Delegate Josh Thomas (D-Prince William).

With a little over two weeks left in the General Assembly session, there are still several bills alive that would present especially stiff penalties to anyone who sells fentanyl that leads to an overdose death. However, lawmakers still need to figure out what they’re going to send to Governor Glenn Youngkin’s desk. 

A Senate bill originally introduced by Republicans would have charged anyone who deals fentanyl and other dangerous drugs that lead to an overdose death with felony homicide punishable by 5-40 years in prison. 

However, Senate Democrats scaled that back to charge the dealer only if a minor is the one who died from an overdose caused by fentanyl. 

“I do not think it should matter whether your family that’s 17 dies or they are 18. That drug dealer should still be held responsible and taken out of the community so they are not continuing to kill our children,” McDougle told 8News. 

Meanwhile, the Democratic-controlled House has taken a different approach, passing a bill that would charge fentanyl dealers no matter the age of the person who dies with involuntary manslaughter punishable by 1-10 years in prison. 

“When you engage in an act that is criminally negligent, in all state codes we pretty much qualify that as a form of manslaughter. So I think what it really gets at is, 'What is the intent behind someone who would do something like this? Are they intending actually to kill someone or are they engaging in an act that is so grossly negligent, that they must be punished for causing that death?'” Thomas explained. 

McDougle told 8News that he believes lawmakers can work out the differences in punishment in the next few weeks. However, he said he wants other dangerous drugs like heroin included in any potential bill lawmakers send to Governor Glenn Youngkin’s desk.