Bill > S07141

This bill, known as "Sasha's Law," amends New York's penal code to create two new criminal offenses related to fentanyl distribution. First, it expands the definition of second-degree murder to include situations where a person knowingly distributes fentanyl or a fentanyl-containing substance that subsequently causes another person's death. Second, the bill establishes a new crime called "aggravated criminal sale of a controlled substance resulting in serious physical injury," which applies when someone manufactures, sells, or distributes fentanyl and causes serious physical injury to another person. The law explicitly states that casual, non-commercial sharing of controlled substances among people with a pre-existing social relationship does not count as a "sale." This new offense is classified as a class B felony. The bill updates language to use gender-neutral terminology (changing "he or she" to "they") and is designed to provide stronger legal consequences for individuals whose fentanyl distribution leads to death or serious injury, reflecting growing concerns about the opioid epidemic and the dangers of fentanyl.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S7141