The Minnesota Senate Judiciary Committee today held a hearing on SF 319, a bill authored by Senator Mark Koran (R-North Branch) that creates a new felony for knowingly altering or substituting controlled substances with fentanyl. The bill takes aim at those who lace other drugs with fentanyl — a practice that has led to a surge in overdose deaths across the state.
“People are dying because they think they’re taking one thing, but instead what they are taking is laced with fentanyl,” Senator Koran said. “Fentanyl is so powerful that just a tiny amount can be lethal. Drug dealers cut it into other substances to boost profits, and the people taking those drugs have no idea what they’re getting. This bill is going to help us crack down on those criminals.”
Michelle Hein, the mother of Tyler Hein, who passed away at age 23 after consuming one pill laced with 100% fentanyl, testified in support of the bill: “Tyler’s life was stolen, and our family is forever broken. This is a deceitful and deadly drug. Thousands of Minnesotans have died from fentanyl overdose and poisoning. Let’s not lose any more of our loved ones to this fatal drug.”
Under SF 319, anyone who knowingly tampers with controlled substances to lace them with fentanyl, whether in pill, powder, or liquid form, could face felony charges. The bill exempts licensed medical professionals such as pharmacists and nurses when acting in their professional roles.
The Minnesota County Attorneys Association has voiced strong support for SF 319, pointing to tragic cases where fentanyl-laced drugs have led to fatal overdoses, including those of multiple young Minnesotans.
“Our communities in Minnesota are facing a dangerous and damaging upsurge of substance abuse that threatens the public safety of thousands of Minnesotans,” Robert Small, Executive Director of the Minnesota County Attorneys Association, said in a letter of support. “In recent years, the introduction of fentanyl into our communities (and not just rural communities) has proven that drug to be even more dangerous and destructive than methamphetamine. Fentanyl is often added to other drugs because of its extreme potency, which makes drugs cheaper, more powerful, more addictive, and more dangerous. Our Association supports SF 319 which creates a new crime of adulterating substances with fentanyl.”
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. It is now the leading cause of overdose deaths in Minnesota. Counterfeit pills containing fentanyl are increasingly common, and even small amounts can be fatal. According to the DEA, 26% of tablets tested in a DEA laboratory contained fentanyl. Of those, 60% contained a lethal dose.
Jeff Potts from the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association also testified in support of the bill.
SF 319 was laid over and will be considered for a larger Judiciary and Public Safety bill later in session. The law would take effect August 1, 2025.
ADDITIONAL MEDIA