Springfield, IL – On Wednesday May 5, State Senator Sally Turner’s (R-Beason) sponsored legislation that would create greater access to potentially life-saving fentanyl testing strips passed out of the Illinois Senate unanimously.

“The United States has seen a nearly 280 percent increase of fentanyl deaths since 2016. That is a spike of fentanyl poisoning deaths from 5.7 individuals per 100,000 to 21.6 per 100,000,” said Sen. Turner. “More and more of the fentanyl deaths that we are seeing are occurring because someone has unwittingly taken this deadly poison.”

House Bill 3203, which was filed in the House by Illinois House Republican Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) and carried by Sen. Turner in the Senate, allows pharmacists and retailers to sell fentanyl testing strips over the counter to the public. Additionally, House Bill 3203 allows county public health departments to distribute the testing strip at their facilities for free.

“The whole purpose of this piece of legislation is to ensure that these testing strips are more readily available for all Illinois residents,” continued Sen. Turner. “Absolutely no one wants anyone to die from this deadly poison. If we can prevent unnecessary and avoidable deaths by making these strips available, then it is our duty to make them as accessible as possible.”

House Bill 3203 has now passed both chambers of the General Assembly, and now heads to the Governor’s desk for his signature.