Big Sky Times

Attorney General Austin Knudsen, along with prosecutors and investigators from the Montana Department of Justice, appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee to advocate for Senate Bill 261. The bill, introduced by Senator Greg Hertz, aims to enhance protections for children against exposure to dangerous drugs such as fentanyl.

The current statute in Montana allows prosecutors to charge adults who expose children to methamphetamine or its paraphernalia. However, it does not cover other harmful substances like fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine. SB 261 seeks to address this gap by including all dangerous drugs listed in Schedules I through V that are not prescribed by a doctor.

If enacted, the legislation would also criminalize actions that lead a child to inhale or ingest marijuana or THC products. It further prohibits encouraging a child to enter environments where human trafficking occurs or where illegal drug production takes place.

"This is a simple fix that will help keep Montana children safe from dangerous drugs," stated Attorney General Knudsen. "We know fentanyl is an extremely dangerous substance and it should be treated as such in state law." He urged legislative support for the bill.