ELMIRA, NY (WENY) -- Senator Tom O'Mara is continuing his push for harsher punishment for some drug-related crimes.

The Republican plans on reintroducing legislation next year, targeting the resurgence of meth-related crimes both on the local and statewide level.

O'Mara is a member of the Senate Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction.

He's pointing to a string of meth lab discoveries and other related arrests across the region in recent months as part of the reason for the push.

O'Mara's legislation would increase the criminal penalties for the possession or sale of the drug and target one of the biggest dangers, meth lab explosions.