Governor Kim Reynolds recently signed a bill that will increase penalties for those who use or deal a certain synthetic potent opioid drug. 

Senate File 595 was sent to the Governor’s desk with overwhelming support from both chambers of the legislature, which aims to increase the punishment for illegally manufacturing, delivering or possessing any controlled substances containing fentanyl. Governor Reynolds tells Raccoon Valley Radio that this law also gives Iowa’s law enforcement extra tools and resources with an increase of fentanyl coming through the southern border. 

“(Fentanyl) is driving chaos in states all across this country. So, you know, at the federal level, they were able to implement penalties that were more effective. And we weren’t able to do that at the state level. And the bill that I signed into law in Atlantic will allow our state law enforcement to really increase the penalties and hopefully start to drive some of the scourge out of our state.”

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird says that they have been seeing the need to punish dealers who distribute fentanyl laced drugs and this law gives prosecutors the ammo to fight for victims and their families. 

“Fentanyl is a deadly, dangerous drug, and we need to make sure that everybody knows that just one pill can kill someone and make sure, especially that our young people know because it is the leading killer of young people in this country.” 

The law includes fines for up to $1 million and 50 years in prison for possession of high quantities of the drug.