In a press conference today, State Senators Sally Turner (R-Beason) and Sue Rezin (R-Morris), alongside McLean County Coroner Kathleen Yoder, are calling for legislative action to combat the fentanyl epidemic, highlighting four bills aimed at increasing penalties for traffickers, ensuring public safety, and properly identifying fentanyl-related deaths.
Senator Turner is leading efforts to crack down on fentanyl dealers with two legislative initiatives:
- Senate Bill 280 makes it a Class X felony, punishable by 9 to 40 years in prison and fines up to $250,000, for anyone unlawfully selling or dispensing any scheduled drug containing fentanyl. It also imposes a Class 1 felony with fines up to $100,000 for using an electronic communication device to facilitate fentanyl trafficking.
- Senate Bill 1569 increases mandatory prison sentences for fentanyl-related crimes, adding 5 years of imprisonment, up from the current 3 years, for manufacturing or delivering fentanyl, while also increasing sentences for possession.
“We must take a firm stance against those who knowingly sell this deadly drug in our communities,” said Senator Sally Turner. “Fentanyl is fueling the opioid epidemic, killing thousands, and leaving families devastated. These bills send a strong message, that if you traffic fentanyl in Illinois, you will face serious consequences.”
Senator Sue Rezin is also introducing two proposals targeting the fentanyl epidemic:
- Senate Bill 113 strengthens public safety by requiring that defendants charged with manufacturing or delivering 15 grams or more of fentanyl must prove, by clear and convincing evidence, that they do not pose a threat to public safety before being granted pretrial release.
- Senate Bill 1283 ensures that fentanyl-related deaths are properly classified as “fentanyl poisonings” rather than overdoses, helping to remove the stigma surrounding these tragedies and recognizing that many victims did not knowingly consume fentanyl.
“Fentanyl is one of the most dangerous drugs we’ve ever encountered, and we must hold traffickers accountable for distributing it in our communities,” said Senator Sue Rezin. “In my district, we saw a case where an individual was arrested with enough fentanyl to kill 1.5 million people and was released. This is unacceptable. At the same time, we need to recognize that fentanyl-related deaths are often not overdoses; they are poisonings, and we should treat them as such. We need to properly address this crisis and remove the stigma from its unwitting victims.”
McLean County Coroner Kathleen Yoder, who has served as both a coroner and a Nurse Practitioner, provided firsthand insight into the devastating impact of fentanyl.
“The fentanyl crisis is a crisis for everyone, in every community,” said McLean County Coroner Kathleen Yoder. “What began as an opioid epidemic fueled by prescription medications has now evolved into a deadly wave of illicit synthetic opioids. Many of these mixtures contain substances that naloxone cannot reverse, meaning that life-saving efforts are not always effective. This crisis demands a holistic approach that includes prevention, treatment, and accountability for those trafficking this poison into our communities.”
The senators and Coroner Yoder reiterated that these legislative proposals are critical steps in addressing the fentanyl crisis. Two of the bills, Senate Bills 280 and 1569, have been assigned to the Senate Criminal Law Clear Compliance Subcommittee. Meanwhile, Senate Bills 113 and 1283 have yet to be assigned to a committee.