AN ACT CLASSIFYING XYLAZINE AS A SCHEDULE IV CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.

SB 749 would reclassify xylazine - a veterinary sedative commonly mixed into illicit drugs like fentanyl - as a Schedule IV controlled substance under Connecticut law. This change would make it illegal to possess or distribute xylazine without authorization, directly affecting individuals who use or traffic the substance and law enforcement agencies. The bill’s key mechanism requires the Commissioner of Consumer Protection to formally list xylazine in Schedule IV, aligning state law with federal scheduling practices for similar substances. The purpose is to address public health concerns about xylazine’s misuse as an adulterant in opioids, without altering existing penalties for other controlled substances.