Bill closing loophole on meth fire deaths clears committee

Sen. Anthony Sykes has won approval for legislation targeting individuals who cause fatal fires as a result of cooking methamphetamine. On Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously for Senate Bill 942, ensuring those responsible for such deaths can be charged with first degree murder.

“Criminal law is very specific—what constitutes a certain crime has to be clearly spelled out in the statutes,” said Sykes, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. “We know making meth is dangerous, and it can cause deadly fires. I was approached by a prosecutor about changing our statutes to specifically address this kind of fatal fire and hold meth manufacturers fully accountable.”

Sykes said this scenario was a good example of why it is important for the legislature to be able to revisit criminal statutes.

“Simply put, things change. People find new ways to use technology or chemistry to commit crimes that can cause serious harm to others. When our felony murder laws were written, no one had ever anticipated the creation of a drug like meth and the serious threat it poses to individuals and to society,” Sykes said. “Updating our laws gives prosecutors the tools they need to ensure dangerous criminals are held fully accountable. That’s the intent of SB 942.”

The measure now moves to the full Senate for further consideration.