Will. Pass the Bill update invoice of the accusation for murder for accidental fontanil overdose

Richmond, va. (7News) – As the session of the General Assembly of Virginia ended this weekend, the parliamentarians have approved two bills, allowing prosecutors to perceive drug traffickers with involuntary murder if they sell fentanyl lace drugs.

Is a bitter-sweet result for Faythe Silveira and her family. There is no day when she doesn’t think about what could have been for her granddaughter, Paula.

“He certainly had an impact on many lives. After he died, many people presented and said:” He gave me a walk, I would always help when I needed help. He was just that friendly person , out, said Silveira.

That future was shortened.

Paula was a student at Bridgewater College when she died of an accidental fentanil overdose after taking a pill that was sold on social networks as percocet. March marks the four -year anniversary of his family tragedy.

Silveira said 7News that the passage Bill House 2657 At least it gives a glow of hope that other families should not suffer as it had.

The bipartidist law adjusts the Virginia law that surrounds taxable crimes for involuntary murder, adding the sale of fentanel drugs that eventually lead to death.

“I think it’s a discouragement,” Silveira said. “I feel that this sends a stronger message to dealers and traffickers that they can get more significant time if they cause someone’s death.”

Virginia del. Josh Thomas wrote the draft law.

He provided the following statement after the draft of the bill:

The Fentanil crisis is devastating families in Virginia and we have to do everything we can to stop the flow of this deadly substance in our communities. This bipartid legislation is a critical step forward to keep those who distribute the responsible fentanel and to keep our communities safe. I am grateful to my colleagues in both rooms for the recognition of the urgency of this problem and I urge the governor to sign this draft law to address this crisis and to help save life.

7News on your part spoke to Thomas before the Senate of Virginia approved his bill and said that he made this draft law a priority after learning the challenges of prosecutors and law enforcement when faced It is facing similar cases to what happened to Silveira’s granddaughter.

“The route they have traveled is to pump the quantity of drug taxes. They would say possession with the intention of distributing and trying and approaching as much condemnation, but there is, necessarily, a crunchy way of Make the accusation of murder to stay, “Thomas said earlier this month. It gets this result, but it has to go through a few additional steps to demonstrate this. What this would do is to codify it immediately in the legal code as its own separate fee.

Silveira’s story is one that, unfortunately, has been reported countless times throughout the country. Virginia Health Department reported Nearly 2,000 people died due to fentanil overdoses In Commonwealth in 2023, which is the latest data. This is almost 80 percent of all deaths by overdose in Virginia.

The legislative session of the General Assembly of Virginia 2025 started with a mandate from the Glenn Youngkin government to address the Fentanil crisis.

MPs have taken these words to the heart, passing a Bipartisan bill requesting schools Announce parents within 24 hours of an overdose Besides Thomas’s Bill.

However, Youngkin told the parliamentarians that it is a priority in strengthening the penalties for fentanil dealers.

“Strong communities also work to prevent harmful drug use,” Youngkin said during his The state of the Commonwealth address in January. “We have worked, collectively, to have an impact on the evil of fentanel. But in order to have a truly impact on drug trafficking, we must raise the punishment for the crime.”

Senate Virginia passed a draft law similar to Thomas’but by making a homicide of increased crime instead of involuntary murder.

However, The language has been changed to be identical to Thomas’s bill – making an increased fee for both involuntary invoices due to the conference process.

“There are some who have to be accused of crime homicides. It’s not everyone, but this throws a wider mesh,” Silveira said. “I am glad that they have managed to meet and agree, at least, with involuntary killing. It is not as hard to accuse, but at least acknowledge that you have caused someone’s death.”

Now, both Bills are heading to the office of governor Youngkin to be signed in the law.

However, he has the option to send the bill back to the parliamentarians so he can pass it with his recommendations during Reconvenan Session of April.

Meanwhile, Silveira has told 7News that it is relieved that some progress has been made in the fight against the Fentanil crisis.

“Of course, she was devastating, but we do not want her death to be without a purpose,” Silveira said. “We feel that in the last six years, we have tried to make stronger penalties for traffickers and dealers and we have simply not arrived. So, this sends a message – both to the courts, for users, traffickers, dealers – that we take it seriously. “