Committee sends House Bill 29 to floor to update scheduling of synthetic drugs and add zuranolone to schedule IV

The Idaho Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted to send House Bill 29 to the Senate floor with a recommendation for a "do pass." The bill updates Idaho's Uniform Controlled Substances Act to add multiple synthetic compounds to state controlled-substances schedules and adds the FDA-approved medication zuranolone to Schedule IV.

Nikki Chopsky, health professions bureau chief at the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses and executive officer for several professional boards, summarized the bill. She said the bill adds synthetic fentanyls (10 compounds) to the opiate section of Schedule I (pages 1–4), seven synthetic cannabinoids to the hallucinogens list in Schedule I (pages 7–8), five synthetic benzodiazepines to Schedule I (page 9), and two synthetic stimulants ("bath salts") to Schedule I (page 10). The bill also proposes adding 23 man-made testosterone derivatives used as anabolic steroids to Schedule III (pages 12–13) and adds zuranolone (brand name cited in testimony) to Schedule IV (page 16).

Chopsky emphasized Idaho presents the scheduling bill annually because the state does not incorporate federal DEA schedules by reference; the Board of Pharmacy reviews federal scheduling and recommends state action based on overdose data, abuse potential and international trends. She told the committee these additions would allow enforcement action if those compounds are used inappropriately. She also testified the changes have no expected fiscal impact on the general fund or dedicated funds.

Senators asked clarifying questions about the scheduling framework; no members recorded opposition to the committee motion. Senator Wintrow moved to send the bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation; the committee approved the motion by voice vote.