'One of the deadliest drugs': Abbott signs anti-fentanyl bill

Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 768 into law at the Crime Stoppers of Houston headquarters, which increases criminal penalties for manufacturing and distributing fentanyl in Texas, according to a press release. 

Those who manufacture or deliver 200 to 400 grams of the drug could now face 15 years in prison, according to the press release. 

More than 400 grams yields a 20-year sentence, the press release said. 

During the signing ceremony, Abbott was joined by Sen. Joan Huffman and Crime Stoppers of Houston Deputy Director Nichole Christoph. 

"We have a duty to fight back against the scourge that is fentanyl in our communities, which is why I proudly signed Senate Bill 768 into law," Abbott said in the press release. "The Biden administration's open border policies have opened the floodgates for this deadly drug to make its way into our communities, but we are taking action to stop this epidemic. By cracking down on the manufacturing and distribution of fentanyl, we will help save lives here in Texas and across America." 

In 2020, deaths from drug overdoses increased to 93,000, driven by the rise of fentanyl, according to the press release. 

In 2021, the Texas Department of Public Safety has seized enough fentanyl to kill every person in Texas and California combined, which is a 950% increase compared to last year, according to the press release. 

Most of the fentanyl is entering the state of Texas through the southern border, the release said. 

Abbott called out one of the authors of the legislation, Rep. Ann Johnson (D-Houston), for participating in the second Democratic walkout. Johnson is in Washington, D.C. with more than 50 absentee Lone Star legislators, according to an ABC 13 article.