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HR780119th Congress

Alexandra’s Law Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Issa, Darrell [R-CA-48]

Introduced

Summary

Adds a mandatory court advisory and new evidence rules in drug-related deaths involving fentanyl. Judges would be required to read a specific warning to anyone convicted of or pleading guilty or no contest to certain controlled substance offenses when a death occurred. The advisory stresses the dangers of illicit drugs and counterfeit pills, especially when mixed with fentanyl or fentanyl analogues, and warns that future sales or administration that cause death could lead to homicide charges.

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  • Defendants: People convicted of or pleading to the covered drug offense where a death occurred would receive the mandated warning and could be exposed to homicide charges under federal law if they knew or should have known the drug contained fentanyl.
  • Evidence and courts: Prosecutors could use prior convictions or pleas under the same provision and state court acknowledgments similar to the advisory as evidence that a defendant knew the fentanyl content. Federal court acknowledgments may be admissible in state court under the bill.
  • Minors: The bill prevents using those prior convictions or acknowledgments as evidence against individuals who were minors when the offense happened.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.

New evidence rules in fentanyl deaths

If enacted, this bill would make some prior fentanyl convictions or guilty/no contest pleas admissible as evidence that a defendant knew a victim's drugs contained fentanyl. That rule would not apply if the prior offense was committed while the person was a minor. The bill would also let a federal court's sworn advisory statement be used in state court, and allow a substantially similar state-court acknowledgment to be used in federal court.

New homicide risk in fentanyl deaths

If enacted, this bill would let prosecutors charge someone with homicide when a federal fentanyl-related drug offense is tied to a death and the person was convicted or pleaded guilty/no contest. It would also require courts to tell such defendants that fentanyl is dangerous and that future conduct causing a death could lead to murder or manslaughter charges. The court advisory would note that the earlier conviction could be used later to show the defendant knew or should have known the drug contained fentanyl.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Issa, Darrell [R-CA-48]

CA • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Kiley, Kevin [I-CA-3]

    CA • I

    Sponsored 1/28/2025

  • Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23]

    CA • R

    Sponsored 1/28/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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