Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders says she supports a new bill which would allow courts to sentence certain drug dealers to life in prison for causing an overdose death.

Sanders made the announcement Friday alongside Attorney General Tim Griffin and Senate Bill 283's Republican co-sponsors, Sen. Ben Gilmore, R-Crossett, and Rep. Jimmy Gazaway, R-Paragould. The governor said the enhanced sentences are necessary due to a nationwide spike in drug overdoses brought on largely by the synthetic opioid fentanyl.

“Arkansas will charge drug dealers with murder if they deliver drugs that cause an overdose. For the most heinous drug dealers, those who traffic fentanyl to children, we will charge them with life in prison. And for anyone caught trafficking fentanyl… Arkansas will put you in jail for 25 to 60 years and impose a mandatory $1 million fine,” Sanders said.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-02-17/sanders-endorses-enhanced-penalties-for-drug-dealers-traffickers

*Daniel Breen/KUAR News*
(From left) Rep. Jimmy Gazaway, R-Paragould, Attorney General Tim Griffin and Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders speak to reporters at the Arkansas State Capitol on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.

KUAR | By Ronak Patel

Two Arkansas state senators are being recommended for discipline by the Senate Ethics Committee after it reviewed a petition filed by Senate Pro Tem Jimmy Hickey, R-Texarkana.

After meeting for several hours behind closed doors on Monday, the committee unanimously voted to recommend penalties be imposed against Sen. Mark Johnson of Little Rock and Sen. Alan Clark of Lonsdale – both Republicans.

Johnson is alleged to have signed Clark’s name on a list of lawmakers taking part in a Boys State meeting earlier this month even though Clark was not there. Sen. Matt Pitsch of Fort Smith said the committee had Clark testify orally and in writing.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2022-06-27/arkansas-senate-ethics-committee-finds-lawmakers-violated-reimbursement-rules

Sanders endorses enhanced penalties for drug dealers, traffickers

Arkansas Senate Ethics Committee finds lawmakers violated reimbursement rules