HB 731 Summary

• Reduces mandatory minimum prison sentences for drug trafficking offenses involving cannabis, cocaine, heroin, hydrocodone, and oxycodone by lowering sentence thresholds and years of imprisonment.

• Increases threshold amounts for certain drug trafficking offenses, allowing larger quantities before triggering mandatory minimums (e.g., cocaine threshold increased from 50 grams to 28 grams for lowest tier).

• Authorizes downward departures from mandatory minimum sentences for hydrocodone and oxycodone trafficking violations of less than 200 grams and 100 grams respectively, if the court finds the mandatory minimum unnecessary for public protection.

• Decreases the sentencing scoresheet multiplier for drug trafficking offenses from 2.0 to 1.5 for level 7 or level 8 offenses under section 921.0024.

• Effective date: October 1, 2017.