A Senate committee advanced a bill that proponents say is a “tough on crime” approach to illegal fentanyl distribution in the state.
It includes mandatory minimum prison requirements and “hefty” fines for distributing the drug.
Rep. John Hughes is the bill’s prime sponsor. He said although it's not as aggressive as he would have liked, he’s supportive of the result.
“This is, frankly, politics in South Dakota at its best today, because we were able to bring in all the stakeholders, vet the bill and produce a good bill, that’s a reasonable compromise," Hughes said. "It isn’t overly draconian, and yet accomplishes hopefully what we all hope, and that’s that people will think twice [about distributing fentanyl in the state]. And if they choose wrongly, they’re going to be locked up for a long time."
He added a more aggressive bill can pass through Florida – the state he modeled it after – but not in South Dakota.
Opponents say the only issue with the bill is it has mandatory minimum imprisonment sentences for the judiciary.
HB 1230 passes the Senate Judiciary Committee 7-0 and now heads to the Senate floor.
