Committee gives due-pass recommendation to House Bill 29 updating controlled-substances schedules
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Summary
House Bill 29 would add multiple synthetic substances and several anabolic steroid derivatives to Idaho's schedules and place the new postpartum depression medication zuranolone into schedule IV; the committee recommended the bill be sent to the Senate floor with a due-pass.
The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted to send House Bill 29 to the full Senate with a due-pass recommendation. The bill updates Idaho’s controlled-substances scheduling to add multiple newly identified illicit and synthetic substances and adds zuranolone (brand name Zurzuve), an FDA-approved treatment for postpartum depression, to Schedule IV.
Nikki Chopsky, health professions bureau chief at the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses and executive officer for multiple licensing boards, presented the bill. Chopsky summarized the annual scheduling updates and explained Idaho’s practice of reviewing and acting on federal scheduling changes each year rather than simply incorporating the federal Controlled Substances Act by reference. "We do not take incorporation by reference of the federal DEA code," Chopsky told the committee; instead the state reviews federal scheduling and applies state scheduling if deemed appropriate.
As presented, the bill would: add 10 synthetic fentanyl-related illicit substances to Schedule I (pages 1–4), add seven synthetic cannabinoids/THC-related substances to Schedule I (pages 7–8), add five synthetic benzodiazepines to Schedule I (page 9), add two synthetic stimulants commonly known as "bath salts" to Schedule I (page 10), add 23 man-made testosterone derivatives used as anabolic steroids to Schedule III (pages 12–13), and add zuranolone (brand name Zurzuve), an FDA-approved treatment for postpartum depression, to Schedule IV (page 16). Chopsky told the committee there was no expected fiscal impact to the general or dedicated funds attributable to the bill.
Senator Wintrow moved to send HB 29 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation; Senator Blaylock seconded. The motion carried on a voice vote with no recorded opposition in the transcript.
If approved by the Legislature, the statutory changes would make the listed substances subject to Idaho controlled-substance enforcement and penalties consistent with their schedules and give state authorities the ability to take enforcement action where appropriate.