ATLANTA (WJBF) - With less than two months until the 2025 legislative session, Georgia's Lieutenant Governor, Burt Jones, is speaking out about ways to reduce overdose deaths in the state.
Earlier this year, state lawmakers passed Austin's Law which addressed the sale and distribution of illicit substances. It would make it a felony to distribute drugs laced with fentanyl.
It requires a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, and a maximum of either 30 years or life in prison.
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Jones said that lawmakers should fund law enforcement agencies so that officers have more resources to go for after drug traffickers and street gangs to get fentanyl off the streets.
"It's a serious issue right now," said Lt Gov. Jones. "So, I would think that it is not an issue where drugs are just necessarily sitting in people's cabinets but drugs that are being imported whether from the border or other states or whatever it may be."
Lawmakers hope imposing stricter penalties will hopefully reduce those trying to distribute drugs like fentanyl, meth and heroin.
State lawmakers will reconvene under the gold dome for 40 legislative days in January at the Georgia state capitol and will tackle several issues including healthcare, mental health and public safety.