This bill proposes to classify xylazine as a schedule III controlled drug by amending RSA 318-B. The new section, 318-B:1-d, explicitly states that xylazine will be scheduled as a controlled substance, overriding the existing provisions that allow for scheduling by rulemaking from the Department of Health and Human Services. Additionally, the bill clarifies that licensed veterinarians are permitted to dispense, prescribe, or administer xylazine to nonhuman species, provided that the drug has been approved under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

The effective date for this legislation is set for January 1, 2027. The fiscal impact of the bill is indeterminable, as it may affect state and local expenditures related to the judicial and correctional systems due to potential changes in criminal penalties associated with the scheduling of xylazine. However, there is no expected revenue impact from this bill.