Attorney General Alan Wilson has expressed his approval following the South Carolina General Assembly's passage of Senate Bill 156, known as the Fentanyl-Induced Homicide Act. The bill introduces a new felony charge for those who unlawfully distribute fentanyl or related substances leading to another person's death. It is now awaiting Governor McMaster's signature.
"Today, South Carolina sends a loud and clear message: if you deal fentanyl and it kills someone, you will be held fully accountable," stated Attorney General Wilson. "This legislation gives prosecutors a powerful new tool to go after the dealers who knowingly poison our communities. I’ve spent years fighting this drug crisis, and with S.156, we are raising the stakes for those driving fentanyl deaths."
Wilson has emphasized his commitment to tackling the issue of fentanyl distribution in South Carolina. "I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: when dangerous drug dealers bring fentanyl into South Carolina, we’re coming for them," he remarked. "We will not let up. This isn’t just a drug crisis; it’s chemical warfare on our streets, and we will treat it like the public emergency that it is."
The Attorney General also acknowledged the efforts of the bill's sponsors and legislators who have supported law enforcement, prosecutors, and families impacted by fentanyl use.
"The General Assembly did the right thing. Now it’s time to get this bill signed into law and start saving lives," he concluded.