The measure cleared the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday after winning an endorsement from Gov. Matt Bevin. The governor said no amount of rehabilitation programs will fix the problem until action is taken to reduce the state's acute drug addiction rate.
The bill would create tougher penalties for people convicted of trafficking in any amount of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic drug.
Another key section deals with powerful, addictive painkillers by attempting to prevent their overprescription.
The committee action comes a day after the Senate passed a bill creating tougher penalties for people caught trafficking smaller amounts of heroin or fentanyl.
