A bill that will restrict access to the drug Xylazine also known as tranq will head to Governor Josh Shapiro’s desk after passing in the house and senate.
After passing in the state senate by a vote of 49-1 on May 1, House Bill 1661 then passed in the state house 172-29 with some added senate amendments. The bill will now head to Governor Shapiro to be signed into law.
The bill mirrors a federal bill that would criminalize possession of xylazine but the Pennsylvania bill has an exemption for licit veterinary use.
The bill gets ahead of regulating the drug as the Federal Drug Administration is considering making xylazine a schedule III drug.