Virginia Republicans They announced their top legislative priorities for the new year, one of the most important of which is reducing fentanyl-related deaths.
Under current case law, it's difficult to charge a drug dealer with the murder of a user who died from the fentanyl he purchased unless he was in close proximity to that dealer, according to GOP lawmakers.
State Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle, R-New Kent, told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that Virginia hopes to address this legislative shortcoming.
“This (law) says if you sell drugs, it doesn't matter if you're in physical proximity,” he said.
Los Angeles police seized about $4 million worth of fentanyl. (LAPD)
McDougle and Senate Republican Caucus Leader Mark Obenshain are leading these efforts.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Obenshain, of Harrisonburg, for additional comment.
However, in A Related press conferenceAs long as people are “dying in every corner of Virginia, from every social and economic background, that means there are people peddling this poison,” Obenshain said.
A special Senate election is scheduled for Tuesday to determine whether Republicans will gain a slightly delayed majority in the chamber this term, where Democrats currently control it by one seat.
Voters went to the polls in both Loudoun County and a group of red counties, including Buckingham, Fluvanna and Goochland.
On Wednesday, several media outlets predicted that Democrats would maintain their slim one-seat majority — requiring a single liberal to side with McDougle and Obenshain on their anti-fentanyl proposal.
In 2022, the Old Dominion region ranked 14th among states in total fentanyl-related deaths, with 1,973 deaths, and placed near the national average in terms of death rate per capita, according to CDC data.
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By comparison, neighboring West Virginia leads the nation in fentanyl deaths per capita, but total deaths were 1,084, fewer than Virginia.
Seven out of 10 pills seized by the DEA contained a lethal dose of fentanyl, according to OnePillCanKill Virginia.
representative Governor Glenn Youngkin He said he believes prosecuting fentanyl dealers should have bipartisan support:
“As Governor Youngkin has repeatedly said, anyone who knowingly and knowingly distributes fentanyl should be charged and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” government spokesman Christian Martinez told Fox News Digital.
“We cannot continue to allow manufacturers and dealers to get away with murder — and it is time for Democratic lawmakers to stand with the families of the victims on fentanyl manufacturers and dealers.”
In April, Youngkin signed Obenshain's previous fentanyl-related bill, SB 469, which makes illegal possession, purchase or sale of packaging machinery for the purpose of producing illicit drugs a sixth-degree felony.
Criminal penalties were also imposed on persons who allow a minor or mentally disabled person to be present during the manufacture of any substance containing fentanyl.
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares previously said that an average of five people die every day from fentanyl overdoses across the state.
“By toughening penalties and criminalizing the possession and use of machinery to produce counterfeit drugs, we are giving law enforcement officers the tools they need to hold drug dealers accountable for poisoning our communities,” Miyares said.
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Virginia Sen. Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover/New Kent. (senate.virginia.gov)
After her husband signed the 2023 legislation, Virginia First Lady Susan Youngkin said “there is nothing more important” than protecting Virginia's families and communities. “I applaud all the people who are working hard to combat the spread of this illicit drug that is claiming the lives of too many Virginians,” she said.
Virginia Republicans also indicated this week that they would work Youngkin's plan in December to cap taxes on tips into law. The plan somewhat mirrors President-elect Donald Trump's “No Tax on Tips” campaign pledge.
“Hardworking Virginians deserve to keep the tips they earn for their service,” McDougle said. “Governor Youngkin’s inclusion of this policy in the budget is an important step in our support of hardworking Virginians, and we are proud to introduce the bill for inclusion in Virginia law.”
The chamber will also continue to enforce a ban on transgender women competing in girls' and women's sports, McDougle said Tuesday.
