CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The Senate passed Lauren’s Law on Tuesday, legislation to increase penalties for drug-related offenses.
Senate Bill 584 is named after Lauren Cole, a 26-year-old Morgantown native and WVU graduate, who died after ingesting drugs laced with fentanyl in July 2020.
The offenders found guilty of providing Lauren with those drugs are currently serving 15-year prison sentences. Under this legislation, similar offenders could be penalized by up to 40 years in prison. Anyone guilty of transporting a controlled substance into the state would also face stricter penalties if this law is enacted, up to 30 years for more than five grams of fentanyl.
The bill now heads to the House of Delegates for consideration.
