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AZ House to weigh in on a bill that would charge fentanyl dealers with murder

The Arizona House Judiciary committee is weighing in this week on  a controversial bill. It would let prosecutors charge fentanyl dealers with murder if what they sell kills someone. This bill has already passed in the Senate.

Most Senate Democrats opposed the bill, including Christine Marsh, who lost her son to overdose. She says bills like this implemented in other states made things worse. 

“For those six states now rank among the worst among the 50 states in overdose mortality rate than they did before they enacted their laws," Marsh said.

Senate Republican Sonny Borrelli, who helped pass the bill, says fentanyl dealers with customers who die deserve "an express lane" to executions.

Jill Ryan joined KJZZ in 2020 as a morning reporter, and she is currently a field correspondent and Morning Edition producer.