This bill adds xylazine to the federal list of controlled substances, putting it under the same kind of oversight as drugs like ketamine and some steroids. Vets and animal shelters could still use it, but with new tracking and registration rules. The bill also directs federal agencies to set criminal penalties and report on how xylazine is being diverted to illegal markets.
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Combating Illicit Xylazine Act is a Senate bill waiting for floor action. The latest recorded action: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 372.
Latest action on S. 545: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 372.
Who this affects: This bill mainly affects veterinarians, animal shelters, wildlife programs, and businesses that use xylazine for animal care. They would face new registration, recordkeeping, and labeling requirements. It also affects law enforcement and the courts, which would gain new tools and penalties for xylazine-related crimes. Manufacturers and pharmacies that handle xylazine would need to comply with federal tracking rules.
Why this matters: Xylazine has been increasingly found mixed into street drugs like fentanyl, contributing to overdose deaths and severe tissue damage in people who use it. Right now, xylazine is not a federally controlled substance, which means there are limited tools to track it or punish its illegal distribution. This bill would close that gap by bringing xylazine under the same federal oversight used for other controlled drugs, while trying to preserve access for the vets and animal programs that need it.
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