When Gov. Brian Kemp signed the Fentanyl Eradication and Removal Act into law recently, Georgia became home to one of the stiffest penalties for trafficking fentanyl. Senate Bill 79 was a priority for Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and State Senators during the 2025 legislative session as a tool in their fight against the illicit sales of the dangerous drug.
“Fentanyl is the deadliest drug, and those who traffic this poison should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. We have lost far too many family members, Georgians and citizens around the nation to this deadly substance, and we must do all we can to keep this drug out of our communities,” said Jones. “
“Last year, we passed ‘Austin’s Law’ and Senate Bill 79 builds on that progress. Both of these measures deliver on our promise to keep communities safer and this deadly drug out of our citizens hands and lives,” Jones added. “I want to thank the families who have shared their stories and ensured that legislation like this becomes law and the loves ones they lost are never forgotten. Thank you, Governor Brian Kemp, for signing this bill into law.”
The “Fentanyl Eradication and Removal Act,” was sponsored by Senator Russ Goodman, R – Cogdell, and creates stiffer mandatory minimum sentences for fentanyl trafficking. The bill goes into effect on July 1, 2025, and will apply to criminal offenses committed on or after that date. The bill imposes mandatory minimum sentences for fentanyl trafficking, starting at five years for possession of four to 14 grams.
According to Goodman, the law aims to address the dangers of fentanyl, which is significantly more potent than other opioids and often laced with other drugs.
Reports indicate that when used in a medical setting with proper dosing, the painkiller can help patients experiencing discomfort. However, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, it is 100 times more potent than morphine, and it can be lethal on the street where it can be found laced with other drugs, such as Oxycodone, Adderall and Xanax.
The DEA reports that two milligrams can kill depending on a person’s body size, tolerance and past usage.
Last session, Senate Bill 465, also known as “Austin’s Law,” was signed into law and address the sale and distribution of substances such as fentanyl.
