AUSTIN, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott has made serious headway in the state’s fight against fentanyl after signing four bills to make them law on Wednesday. The legal measures allow the state to treat fentanyl deaths as murder, list fentanyl poisoning on death certificates instead of overdose, supply Texas colleges and universities with more NARCAN and promote awareness of fentanyl poisoning among youth.

“The fentanyl epidemic has taken far too many innocent lives, but thanks to the work by brave parents and loved ones, like those here today, we have made Texans aware of this crisis,” said Abbott. “These four laws will forever change Texas through new protections that will help save lives. In 2022, more than 2,000 people died from fentanyl in Texas—or more than five a day. It is the No. 1 killer of Americans ages 18-45. And as I noted at our fentanyl summit a few months ago, just one pill kills. In my State of the State address at the beginning of this session, I made curbing the fentanyl epidemic an emergency item. Today, I am signing four new laws that will save countless lives.”

The bills are thoroughly described as follows:

  1. HB 6 (Goldman/Huffman) constitutes the act of supplying fentanyl as murder if drug use leads to death. The criminal penalty for manufacturing or delivering fentanyl is magnified with this bill. Fentanyl-related deaths have been classified as an overdose, but HB 6 changes that. Now, fatal cases of fentanyl are required to be labeled as fentanyl toxicity or fentanyl poisoning on the death certificate.
  2. HB 3144 (Lujan/Campbell) designates October as Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month. Thirty-one days out of each year will be dedicated to bringing greater attention to the dangers of fentanyl.
  3. HB 3908 (Wilson/Creighton), also called Tucker’s Law, makes public schools educate students in grade six through 12 on fentanyl abuse prevention and drug poisoning awareness. Additionally, Abbott must designate a Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Week.
  4. SB 867 (West/Rose) permits Texas colleges and universities to deploy opioid antagonists, like NARCAN, to prevent poisonings.

“I am honored that Tucker’s Law is officially a law starting today that will provide education and resources to our students and parents across the state,” said Texas Against Fentanyl Founder Stefanie Turner. “While Tucker’s Law is named in honor of my son, it isn’t for my son. It’s for every living son and daughter across Texas. Thank you, Governor Abbott, for recognizing this massive problem and for trailblazing across the state.”

Turner lost her 19-year-old son to laced fentanyl in 2021. His death emboldened her to share his story and warn others of the deadly consequences that lies within the use of fentanyl. As Abbott signed the four fentanyl-related bills, many parents who also suffered through losing their child to fentanyl joined him.

Leander High School alumna and student fentanyl advocate Jenna Mitchell stated, “Fentanyl is a clandestine killer, and younger Texans, like me, are especially vulnerable. Many students have never even heard about fentanyl or its deadly effects. There is a critical need to increase awareness and expand education on the dangers of fentanyl in our schools. Over 5.4 million Texas public school students depend on it.”