Future of Va. bill charging fentanyl dealers with manslaughter to be discussed Wednesday

RICHMOND,Va.(7News)—IthasbeenalongjourneyforFaytheSilveiratotryandgetVirginialawmakerstostrengthenpenaltiesagainstfentanyldealers. ShehasmadethetrekfromHarrisonburg,Va.,toRichmondtotestifyinfavorofseveralbillsthatwouldtoughenupthelaw.Eachtimeshetestifies,sheistakenbacktoMarch2021,whenherniece–Paula–diedfromanaccidentalfentanyloverdoseatjust18yearsofage. “Thedealersjustcallouslyletherdie,”Silveirasaid. Thefutureofabillthatwillprovideanadditionalchargeforprosecutorsagainstfentanyldealersisupintheair,asVirginialawmakersaresettoreturntoRichmondWednesdayforthereconvenesession. Beforetheendoftheregularlegislativesession,VirginialawmakersapprovedHouseBill2657inabipartisanfashion.Thebillallowsprosecutorstochargedrugdealerswithinvoluntarymanslaughteriftheysellfentanyl-laceddrugsthatultimatelykilltheircustomer. However,Gov.GlennYoungkin,aRepublican,didnotsignthebillintolaw,insteadsendingi