Gov. Abbott signs anti-fentanyl bills into law in Texas

Texas Governor Greg Abbott was surrounded by families affected by the escalating fentanyl crisis, as he signed a series of bills Wednesday intended to tackle the issue.

The focal point of the legislative packet is House Bill 6, which grants authority to prosecute fentanyl-related deaths as murder.

Another major milestone is House Bill 3908, known as "Tucker's Law," named after Tucker Roe, a 19-year-old victim of a fentanyl overdose. Roe took a fentanyl-laced pill he purchased on social media, thinking it was Xanax.

Tucker's Law aims to prevent such tragedies by mandating schools educate students in grades 6 through 12 on fentanyl abuse prevention and drug poisoning awareness.

"You paid too high a price losing your family members but knowing that working with the memory of your family member, you got engaged, you got involved. You ensured that there would be a purpose for the life of everybody affected by this," Gov. Abbott said at the bill signing ceremony.

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Two more bills also received the Governor's signature. House Bill 3144, designating October as Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month, and Senate Bill 867, which enables the Texas Health and Human Services to collaborate with state colleges and universities to provide Narcan, an opioid overdose reversal drug, on campuses.