Combating Illicit Xylazine Act | ChamberLight

REPORTED· 119TH CONGRESS

House BillHR 1266Licensing and registrationsVeterinary medicine and animal diseases

Combating Illicit Xylazine Act

INTRO FEB 12· LAST ACTION JUL 21

READING

6MIN

COSPONSORS

113BIPARTISAN

READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL

NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST

Introduced only

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 3 / 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed House

Passed Senate

Conference

To President

Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

This bill matters because xylazine is increasingly found mixed into illegal drugs like fentanyl, contributing to a rise in overdose deaths and causing severe health issues, including deep wounds and infections that lead to amputations. Currently, xylazine is not a federally controlled substance, making it easier to divert and distribute on the black market.

If this bill becomes law, it will give law enforcement agencies the power to prosecute the illicit manufacturing and distribution of xylazine, potentially reducing its presence in the illegal drug supply. This could save lives and reduce harm for individuals struggling with substance use. Without this bill, the illicit use of xylazine would likely continue to proliferate unchecked by federal drug laws, allowing it to remain a significant and unaddressed contributor to the nation's overdose crisis.

KEY PROVISIONS

5AI-extracted

PROVISION 01

Adds xylazine to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act.

This makes unauthorized manufacturing, distribution, and possession of xylazine illegal under federal law, providing tools for law enforcement to combat its illicit spread.

PROVISION 02

Amends the definition of an 'ultimate user' to ensure veterinarians, animal owners, and animal control programs can lawfully possess xylazine for animal care.

This provision protects legitimate veterinary and animal welfare uses of xylazine from the new federal controls.

PROVISION 03

Requires the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to track the distribution of xylazine through its Automated Reports and Consolidated Orders System (ARCOS).

This will help monitor the flow of xylazine in the legal supply chain and identify potential points of diversion to the illicit market.

PROVISION 04

Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and potentially update sentencing guidelines for offenses involving xylazine.

This ensures that federal penalties for illicit xylazine crimes are appropriate and consistent with its new status as a controlled substance.

PROVISION 05

Mandates that the Attorney General, through the DEA and FDA, report to Congress on the prevalence, origin, and impact of illicit xylazine use.

These reports will provide critical data to understand the scope of the problem and inform future policy decisions.

SPONSORSHIP

1 + 113

COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 88%

DEM 50 REP 63 IND 0

ACTION TIMELINE

10 EVENTS

JUL 21

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

COMMITTEE

JUL 21

Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 48 - 0.

COMMITTEE

JUL 20

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

COMMITTEE

JUN 25

Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

COMMITTEE

BILL INFO

TypeHouse Bill

NumberHR 1266

Congress119th

StatusReported

IntroducedFeb 12, 2025

Last actionJul 21, 2026

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REPORTED· 119TH CONGRESS · JUDICIARY COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED FEB 12, 2025

House BillHR 1266Licensing and registrationsVeterinary medicine and animal diseases

Combating Illicit Xylazine Act

INTRODUCED FEB 12, 2025· LAST ACTION JUL 21, 2026

PASSAGE CHANCES

—%

READING

6 min

COSPONSORS

113

COMPLEXITY

Moderate

Call my reps

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 3 OF 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed House

Passed Senate

Conference

To President

Became Law

Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

KEY PROVISIONS

AI-extracted

high

Adds xylazine to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act.

This makes unauthorized manufacturing, distribution, and possession of xylazine illegal under federal law, providing tools for law enforcement to combat its illicit spread.

high

Amends the definition of an 'ultimate user' to ensure veterinarians, animal owners, and animal control programs can lawfully possess xylazine for animal care.

This provision protects legitimate veterinary and animal welfare uses of xylazine from the new federal controls.

med

Requires the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to track the distribution of xylazine through its Automated Reports and Consolidated Orders System (ARCOS).

This will help monitor the flow of xylazine in the legal supply chain and identify potential points of diversion to the illicit market.

med

Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and potentially update sentencing guidelines for offenses involving xylazine.

This ensures that federal penalties for illicit xylazine crimes are appropriate and consistent with its new status as a controlled substance.

low

Mandates that the Attorney General, through the DEA and FDA, report to Congress on the prevalence, origin, and impact of illicit xylazine use.

These reports will provide critical data to understand the scope of the problem and inform future policy decisions.

DEADLINES & DATES

AI-extracted

An AI model extracted this from the bill’s official record and can make mistakes. Check the official text ↗ (opens in new tab)

1 year after the date of enactment of this Act

Compliance with labeling, packaging, and distribution logistics requirements for xylazine as a Schedule III substance.

60 days after the date of enactment of this Act

Compliance with practitioner registration, inventory, and recordkeeping requirements for xylazine as a Schedule III substance.

Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act

Submission of an initial report to Congress on the prevalence and impacts of illicit xylazine use.

Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act

Submission of an additional report to Congress updating on the prevalence and proliferation of xylazine.

PENALTIES & ENFORCEMENT

AI-extracted

An AI model extracted this from the bill’s official record and can make mistakes. Check the official text ↗ (opens in new tab)

TYPE	AMOUNT	WHO
criminal	By placing xylazine in Schedule III, the bill makes it subject to existing federal penalties under the Controlled Substances Act (e.g., 21 U.S.C. 841 and 960). For manufacturing, distributing, or possessing with intent to distribute a Schedule III substance, penalties can include imprisonment for up to 10 years and/or fines up to $500,000 for an individual (first offense). Simple possession without authorization carries lesser penalties.	Individuals who illegally manufacture, distribute, or possess xylazine, particularly with intent to distribute, or those who possess it without proper authorization as defined by the Controlled Substances Act.

GLOSSARY

AI-written

Xylazine: A non-opioid sedative, analgesic, and muscle relaxant primarily used in veterinary medicine, often referred to as an animal tranquilizer.
Controlled Substances Act (CSA): The federal law that regulates the manufacture, importation, possession, use, and distribution of certain drugs and substances in the United States.
Schedule III: A category under the Controlled Substances Act for drugs with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence, and currently accepted medical use, but with less abuse potential than Schedule I or II drugs. Examples include ketamine and anabolic steroids.
Ultimate User: A person who has lawfully obtained, and who possesses, a controlled substance for personal use, for a household member, or for an animal they own or care for, without needing to register with the DEA as a practitioner.
ARCOS: Automated Reports and Consolidated Orders System; a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) program that monitors the movement of controlled substances from manufacturing to distribution to points of sale across the United States.
Sentencing Guidelines: Rules issued by the United States Sentencing Commission that provide judges with guidelines for appropriate sentences for federal crimes, aiming for consistency and fairness.

ACTION TIMELINE

10 EVENTS

JUL 21

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

COMMITTEE

JUL 21

Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 48 - 0.

COMMITTEE

JUL 20

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

COMMITTEE

JUN 25

Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

COMMITTEE

READER REACTIONS

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Committee Referrals

Judiciary CommitteeReferred

Feb 12, 2025

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Combating Illicit Xylazine Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

SPONSORSHIP

ACTION TIMELINE

BILL INFO

READER REACTIONS

Discussion

Combating Illicit Xylazine Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

DEADLINES & DATES

PENALTIES & ENFORCEMENT

GLOSSARY

ACTION TIMELINE

SPONSORS

READER REACTIONS

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Discussion

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Committee Referrals

Related Legislation

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Markup of Fifteen Bills

Full Committee Markup of Twenty-Nine Pieces of Legislation

Nine Pieces of Legislation

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Combating Illicit Xylazine Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

SPONSORSHIP

ACTION TIMELINE

BILL INFO

READER REACTIONS

Discussion

Combating Illicit Xylazine Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

DEADLINES & DATES

PENALTIES & ENFORCEMENT

GLOSSARY

ACTION TIMELINE

SPONSORS

READER REACTIONS

What do you think?

Discussion

MORE INFORMATION

Committee Referrals

Related Legislation

Related Hearings

Markup of Fifteen Bills

Full Committee Markup of Twenty-Nine Pieces of Legislation

Nine Pieces of Legislation

Policies to Protect Our Communities From Illicit Drug Threats