Rep. Lightner Lands Decisive Blow Against Fentanyl Trafficking in Michigan

State Rep. Sarah Lightner achieved a decisive victory as the Michigan House of Representatives approved landmark legislation implementing some of the toughest penalties in state history for fentanyl trafficking today. The comprehensive legislative package—House Bills 4255 and 4256—introduces significantly enhanced mandatory minimum prison sentences for individuals convicted of manufacturing, distributing, or possessing fentanyl with intent to deliver.

“ Michigan is sending a clear, powerful message to fentanyl dealers and traffickers: your devastating impact on our families and communities will no longer go unanswered,” said Lightner, chair of the House Judiciary Committee. “This legislation provides law enforcement and prosecutors the critical tools they need to aggressively confront this epidemic and protect our citizens.”

Lightner called the vote a decisive victory for Michigan families and law enforcement officers confronting the devastating effects of fentanyl on communities across the state.

“Fentanyl has destroyed families, overwhelmed first responders, and turned every corner of our state into a potential crime scene,” Lightner said. “With this legislation, we are putting traffickers on notice: If you push this poison in Michigan, you will face serious time — no deals, no loopholes, no leniency.”

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 50 times more potent than heroin, is now the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 45. In Michigan, 2,998 people died of drug overdoses in 2022 — more than from traffic accidents and firearms combined. Roughly 80% of those deaths involved opioids such as fentanyl.

The package sets mandatory minimum sentences based on the weight of fentanyl involved:

• Less than 50 grams: 5 to 20 years
  
• 50 to 450 grams: 10 to 25 years
  
• 450 to 1,000 grams: 15 to 40 years
  
• More than 1,000 grams: 30 years to life
  

In addition, the legislation establishes enhanced penalties for those who knowingly sell fentanyl-laced substances without disclosure and those who distribute fentanyl to minors. These provisions carry no possibility of parole, probation, or early release.

“We have heard from law enforcement, prosecutors and grieving parents across this state, all saying the same thing — the current penalties are not enough,” Lightner said. “The Michigan House delivered a clear, unified message: We are done tolerating fentanyl dealers. This is a matter of justice, public safety and human dignity.”

The legislation received strong bipartisan support and endorsements from multiple law enforcement associations, including the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association and county prosecutors. Testimony in committee featured harrowing stories from families who lost loved ones to fentanyl-laced pills and powder — often unknowingly consumed.

“This legislation isn’t about politics. It’s about saving lives,” Lightner said. “We owe it to every parent who buried a child, to every officer who responded to a preventable death, and to every Michigander who deserves to live free from the threat of fentanyl.”

House Bills 4255 and 4256 now advance to the Senate for further consideration.

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