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Senators Turner, Rezin, and McLean
County Coroner Yoder Highlight Urgent Need for Action on Fentanyl
Crisis
[March 07, 2025]
Springfield, IL – In a press conference today,
State Senators Sally Turner (R-Beason) and Sue Rezin (R-Morris),
alongside McLean County Coroner Kathleen Yoder, are calling for
legislative action to combat the fentanyl epidemic, highlighting
four bills aimed at increasing penalties for traffickers, ensuring
public safety, and properly identifying fentanyl-related deaths.
Senator Turner is leading efforts to crack down on fentanyl dealers
with two legislative initiatives
Senate Bill 280 makes it a Class X felony, punishable by 9 to 40
years in prison and fines up to $250,000, for anyone unlawfully
selling or dispensing any scheduled drug containing fentanyl. It
also imposes a Class 1 felony with fines up to $100,000 for using an
electronic communication device to facilitate fentanyl trafficking.
Senate Bill 1569 increases mandatory prison sentences for
fentanyl-related crimes, adding 5 years of imprisonment, up from the
current 3 years, for manufacturing or delivering fentanyl, while
also increasing sentences for possession.
“We must take a firm stance against those who
knowingly sell this deadly drug in our communities,” said Senator
Sally Turner. “Fentanyl is fueling the opioid epidemic, killing
thousands, and leaving families devastated. These bills send a
strong message, that if you traffic fentanyl in Illinois, you will
face serious consequences.”
Senator Sue Rezin is also introducing two proposals targeting the
fentanyl epidemic:
Senate Bill 113 strengthens public safety by requiring that
defendants charged with manufacturing or delivering 15 grams or more
of fentanyl must prove, by clear and convincing evidence, that they
do not pose a threat to public safety before being granted pretrial
release.
Senate Bill 1283 ensures that fentanyl-related deaths are properly
classified as “fentanyl poisonings” rather than overdoses, helping
to remove the stigma surrounding these tragedies and recognizing
that many victims did not knowingly consume fentanyl.
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“Fentanyl is one of the most
dangerous drugs we've ever encountered, and we must hold
traffickers accountable for distributing it in our communities,”
said Senator Sue Rezin. “In my district, we saw a case where an
individual was arrested with enough fentanyl to kill 1.5 million
people and was released. This is unacceptable. At the same time,
we need to recognize that fentanyl-related deaths are often not
overdoses; they are poisonings, and we should treat them as
such. We need to properly address this crisis and remove the
stigma from its unwitting victims.”
McLean County Coroner Kathleen Yoder, who has served
as both a coroner and a Nurse Practitioner, provided firsthand
insight into the devastating impact of fentanyl.
“The fentanyl crisis is a crisis for everyone, in every community,”
said McLean County Coroner Kathleen Yoder. “What began as an opioid
epidemic fueled by prescription medications has now evolved into a
deadly wave of illicit synthetic opioids. Many of these mixtures
contain substances that naloxone cannot reverse, meaning that
life-saving efforts are not always effective. This crisis demands a
holistic approach that includes prevention, treatment, and
accountability for those trafficking this poison into our
communities.”
The senators and Coroner Yoder reiterated that these legislative
proposals are critical steps in addressing the fentanyl crisis. Two
of the bills, Senate Bills 280 and 1569, have been assigned to the
Senate Criminal Law Clear Compliance Subcommittee. Meanwhile, Senate
Bills 113 and 1283 have yet to be assigned to a committee.
[Text received from Marcus J. Durrett
Senior Communications Strategist
Communications and Public Affairs
Illinois Senate Republican Staff]
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