SPRINGFIELD — A Senate proposal to increase penalties for fentanyl possession awaits a hearing before the House Judiciary-Criminal Committee.Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid similar to morphine, but 50 to 100 times more powerful, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.Under 720 ILCS 570/402, certain substances like heroin and cocaine have harsher penalties for possession compared to other drugs.Because that law does not mention fentanyl specifically, it currently falls under the general penalty for …