Alaska House advances bill to tackle fentanyl crisis with longer drug sentences

JUNEAU — An Alaska House committee advanced legislation last week to address the state’s fentanyl crisis with longer sentences for opioid convictions. The Dunleavy administration previewed the measure in October as a way to combat a staggering rise in fentanyl deaths in Alaska. Supporters said there are not harsh enough penalties for drug dealers, while recovery advocates said the bill is overly broad and that drug users would be swept up in the harsher sentences. The House Judiciary Committee advanced House Bill 66 last week, which has three main components: * It would increase penalties from manslaughter to second-degree murder…