SB188 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

April WeaverSenator

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Crimes and offenses, unlawful possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and trafficking in illegal drugs further provided for

Summary

SB188 would broaden and stiffen penalties for unlawful possession with intent to distribute and trafficking in fentanyl and related drugs, adding new thresholds, mixtures, and a firearm enhancement.

What This Bill Does

It lowers the unlawful possession with intent to distribute threshold for fentanyl mixtures to more than 0.5 gram but less than 1 gram (and adds ANPP as a precursor). It expands trafficking to cover mixtures of fentanyl, its analogues, and ANPP, not just single substances. It establishes extensive tiered mandatory minimum penalties for trafficking a wide range of drugs based on weight or quantity, up to life imprisonment for the largest amounts, plus substantial fines. It also adds a firearm enhancement that adds five years to the sentence when a firearm is possessed during a drug offense, and this enhancement cannot be suspended. The measure takes effect October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• Individuals who possess fentanyl or fentanyl-related substances (including ANPP) or mixtures containing them, who could face lower unlawful possession thresholds and stricter trafficking charges.
• Drug traffickers and suppliers of cannabis, cocaine, morphine/opium/heroin, MDMA, meth/amphetamine/methamphetamine, fentanyl and analogues, LSD, PCP, hydromorphone, methaqualone, and other listed substances, who face new tiered penalties and possible life sentences depending on the amount involved.

Key Provisions

• Amends unlawful possession with intent to distribute to apply to more than one-half gram but less than one gram of fentanyl and related substances (including ANPP as a precursor) and expands what counts as 'intent to distribute' for these substances.
• Expands trafficking to include any mixture of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues or mixtures with ANPP, beyond a single substance.
• Creates detailed, weight-based mandatory minimum penalties for trafficking a broad list of drugs (cannabis, cocaine, morphine/opium/heroin, MDMA, methamphetamine, amphetamine, methaqualone, hydromorphone, PCP, LSD, fentanyl and its analogues, and synthetic substances) with sentences ranging from several years to life and corresponding fines.
• Introduces a separate category of 'trafficking in synthetic controlled substances' with specific gram-based thresholds and corresponding penalties, including life imprisonment for the largest amounts.
• Imposes a firearm enhancement: if a firearm is possessed during the commission of any drug offense, an additional five-year sentence is added (not subject to suspension) plus a separate fine.
• Sets the act's effective date at October 1, 2025.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Crimes & Offenses