Abbott signs anti-fentanyl legislation into law

Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 768 into law, which would increase criminal penalties for manufacturing and distributing fentanyl in Texas.

Under the legislation, the punishment for the manufacture or delivery of 4-200 grams of fentanyl is a minimum of ten years to a maximum of life in prison. The minimum sentence increases to 15 years for an amount of 200-400 grams and 20 years for an amount of over 400 grams.

This year, the Texas Department of Public Safety has seized enough fentanyl to kill every person in Texas and California combined — a 950% increase compared to last year. A majority of fentanyl is entering the state of Texas through the southern border.