Committee gives due-pass recommendation to House Bill 29 to update controlled-substance schedules

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted to send House Bill 29 to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation. The bill updates Idaho’s Uniform Controlled Substances Act to add multiple synthetic substances and to place a newly FDA-approved postpartum-depression treatment into state scheduling.

Nikki Chopsky, health professions bureau chief at the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, told the committee the bill adds synthetic fentanyls to Schedule I, several synthetic cannabinoids to Schedule I, multiple synthetic benzodiazepines to Schedule I, so-called "bath salts" to Schedule I, and 23 man-made testosterone derivatives used as anabolic steroids to Schedule III. The bill also proposes adding zuranolone (brand name recorded in committee materials as Zirzuve) — an FDA-approved treatment for postpartum depression — to Schedule IV. "I respectfully request that you send House Bill 29 to the floor with a due pass recommendation," Chopsky said.

Chopsky explained Idaho reviews federal scheduling changes annually rather than incorporating the DEA code by reference. "That is why you see this bill presented every year... we are one of 12 states that does not just incorporate by reference the entire DEA scheduling," she said, describing considerations such as overdose data and abuse potential that inform state scheduling decisions. Committee members asked clarifying questions about where the anabolic steroids had previously been listed; Chopsky said the 23 added derivatives supplement a list already containing about 60 derivatives in Schedule III.

Senator Wintrow moved to send the bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The transcript recorded no roll-call tally in committee minutes. The bill will be scheduled for floor action where further debate, amendment or a roll-call vote may occur.