Montana Attorney General Advocates for Legislation to Protect Children from Drugs

HELENA – Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday, advocating for Senate Bill 261. This proposed legislation aims to bolster existing child welfare laws by closing a loophole that currently exempts dangerous substances, such as fentanyl and heroin, from being classified alongside methamphetamine in situations of exposure or abuse by adults.

The existing law allows for the prosecution of individuals who permit children to come into contact with methamphetamine but fails to include other harmful drugs. SB 261 seeks to remedy this by incorporating all dangerous drugs listed in Schedules I through V, excluding those prescribed by medical professionals.

If passed, the bill would also criminalize:

• Facilitating a child’s exposure to or ingestion of marijuana or THC products;
• Encouraging a child to enter locations associated with human trafficking;
• And promoting a child’s involvement in places where dangerous drugs are being illegally produced.

Attorney General Knudsen emphasized the importance of the legislation, stating, “This is a simple fix that will help keep Montana children safe from dangerous drugs. We know fentanyl is an extremely dangerous substance and it should be treated as such in state law.” He urged lawmakers to support the bill.

Senator Greg Hertz, the bill’s sponsor, echoed these sentiments, mentioning, “Exposing kids to dangerous drugs or unsafe criminal environments is unconscionable. Adults are responsible for the safety and well-being of children and SB 261 will hold them accountable to that.”