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HB 4255

Crimes: controlled substances; crime of manufacturing, delivering, or possession of with intent to deliver certain controlled substances; modify penalties. Amends secs. 7401, 7410 & 7417 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.7401 et seq.) & adds secs. 7410b & 7417a.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Timmy Beson and 21 co-sponsors

HB 4255 imposes substantially longer mandatory minimums and higher penalties for manufacturing, delivering, or possessing with intent to deliver heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil, and

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CIVIL RIGHTS, JUDICIARY, AND PUBLIC SAFETY
#controlledsubstances:narcoticdrugs #crimes:controlledsubstances #crimes:penalties
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Bill Summary · HB 4255

HB 4255 — Summary (Public Health Code: controlled substances; revised penalties)

Sponsor: Rep. Sarah Lightner
Introduced: March 2025. Status: Passed House (4/23/2025) and referred to Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety (4/29/2025).

Purpose / Intent

HB 4255 amends the Michigan Public Health Code to substantially increase penalties (including new mandatory minimums and higher sentencing classifications) for manufacturing, delivering, or possessing with intent to deliver heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil, and their derivatives. It also creates enhanced penalties for delivering those substances to minors and for knowingly selling products containing them without disclosure.

Key provisions

  • Amends sections 7401, 7410, and 7417 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.7401 et seq.) and adds sections 7410b and 7417a.
  • Carves heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil, and derivatives into a distinct penalty group (Group A); retains current penalties for cocaine and other Schedule 1 or 2 narcotic drugs not in Group A.
  • Weight‑based felony penalties for manufacture/delivery or possession with intent (any mixture containing the substance):
    • 1,000 grams or more: imprisonment not less than 30 years and up to life without parole; mandatory fine up to $2,000,000.
    • 450–999 grams: imprisonment not less than 15 years and up to 40 years; fine up to $500,000.
    • 50–449 grams: imprisonment not less than 10 years and up to 25 years; fine up to $250,000.
    • Less than 50 grams: imprisonment not less than 5 years and up to 20 years; fine up to $25,000.
    • (By contrast, current law for many narcotic offenses permits life or lesser maximums without these mandatory minimums and lower maximum fines.)
  • Delivery to a minor: an individual 18 or older who delivers (or possesses with intent to deliver) heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil, or derivatives to a person under 18 would face imprisonment of 10 to 40 years.
  • Representations / concealment prohibition: a person who knows a product contains heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil, or derivatives may not sell or offer it for sale without stating that it contains the substance. Violation is a felony carrying a mandatory determinate 10‑year sentence that must run consecutively to, and before, any other term imposed for the sale/offense.
  • Fines for the listed Group A offenses would be imposed in addition to — not in lieu of — imprisonment (per committee analysis).
  • The bill raises felony classifications in sentencing guidelines for covered offenses.

Who is affected

  • Persons who manufacture, deliver, or possess with intent to manufacture or deliver heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil, and their derivatives (including mixtures).
  • Individuals 18+ who deliver those substances to minors.
  • Sellers or offerors of products who knowingly fail to disclose that the product contains these substances.
  • Criminal justice system: prosecutors, defense counsel, courts, corrections (longer mandatory incarceration), and sentencing guideline application.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Introduced March 18, 2025 (filed March 10); reported and considered in committee; committee substitute considered and testimony recorded (public hearing 4/28/2025) and left pending in committee.
  • Passed the Michigan House with immediate effect April 23, 2025 (Roll Call #67 — Yeas 66, Nays 40). Referred to the Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety on April 29, 2025.

Potential impacts to note

  • Substantially longer mandatory minimum prison terms and higher maximum penalties for offenses involving the specified opioids could increase incarceration time and related corrections costs.
  • The consecutive 10‑year mandatory term for undisclosed sales may produce significantly longer aggregate sentences.
  • The bill distinguishes these substances from other narcotics, reflecting a legislative focus on fentanyl/carfentanil/heroin as higher‑risk drugs.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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