Burt Jones, the lieutenant governor of Georgia, said that the new fentanyl law strengthens community safety and honors victims by ensuring deadly drugs are kept out of circulation. The statement was made on X.
“These measures deliver on our promise to keep communities safer,” said Jones. “This deadly drug out of our citizens hands and lives. I want to thank the families who have shared their stories. The loved ones they lost are never forgotten.”
In early 2025, Georgia introduced the “Fentanyl Eradication and Removal Act,” which aims to establish specific criminal penalties for fentanyl-related offenses separate from other opioids. According to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, the bill is part of a broader effort to combat the state’s escalating fentanyl crisis and is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2025. The legislation reflects growing concern over fentanyl’s role in overdose deaths and prioritizes targeted enforcement to reduce distribution and abuse.
According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, opioid-related overdose deaths have surged in recent years, with fentanyl driving the majority of these fatalities. Since 2020, the presence of fentanyl in illicit drugs—including methamphetamine and cocaine—has contributed to a sharp rise in overdoses statewide. The department’s data shows a persistent upward trend, underscoring the urgency for more targeted public health interventions.
Georgia legalized the use of fentanyl test strips (FTS) in July 2022, allowing for community distribution to detect synthetic opioids in street drugs. As reported by the Network for Public Health Law, Georgia’s approach is more limited compared to southeastern states like Alabama and Florida, which have broader laws covering drug-checking equipment. This difference illustrates varying legislative strategies in the region for preventing fentanyl overdoses.
Jones is Georgia’s 13th Lieutenant Governor, serving since January 2023, and is a member of the Republican Party. According to his official biography, he previously served in the Georgia State Senate from 2013 to 2023, representing District 25, and is also a businessman involved in petroleum and insurance ventures. His key policy areas include economic development, education, and public safety reform.
