FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, February 3, 2025

ATLANTA | Today, Lt. Governor Burt Jones announced a priority for the 2025 Legislative Session, the “Fentanyl Eradication and Removal Act.” Senator Russ Goodman (R – Cogdell) sponsored the legislation which would establish stiffer criminal penalties for fentanyl offenses.

“This Act continues efforts the Senate led on in 2024 to address fentanyl deaths in Georgia, with the passage of Austin’s Law,” said Lt. Governor Burt Jones. “The proposed legislation complements our ongoing priority to combat opioid abuse across the state and to hold those who poison our communities with illicit substances like fentanyl accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Many of these criminals are bringing this poison across the border illegally. Georgia will continue to fight back. With the support of President Trump and the new Administration working tirelessly to secure the border, this is a fight we can and must win. This legislation and the enforcement of ‘Austin’s Law’ will help to prevent the senseless deaths of Georgians.”

The “Fentanyl Eradication and Removal Act” was filed with the Secretary of Senate’s Office today. The Act removes fentanyl from Georgia’s current statutes relating to possessing, selling, distributing, manufacturing, and trafficking opiates and creates a separate schedule of offenses specific to fentanyl and its related substances. The bill would go into effect on July 1, 2025 and would apply to criminal offenses committed on or after that date.

For the full language of this legislation, please follow this link: https://www.legis.ga.gov/search?ch=2&d=1&s=1033&p=1

Contact

Policy and Communications Director Ines Owens

[email protected]