Alexandra's Law Act of 2023 amends federal drug trafficking laws to address deaths involving fentanyl and similar substances. When someone is convicted or pleads guilty to selling or distributing fentanyl (or fentanyl analogues) that results in a death, a court must provide them with a specific warning explaining the deadly nature of these drugs and that future deaths from substances they provide could result in federal homicide charges. The law allows previous convictions for fentanyl-related drug sales involving deaths to be used as evidence in future homicide prosecutions to demonstrate the defendant knew or should have known that the drugs contained fentanyl. The bill also permits statements made in state court proceedings to be admitted in federal court and vice versa, ensuring consistency across jurisdictions. The exception excludes individuals who were minors at the time of the original offense from having their prior convictions used against them in later prosecutions.
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