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House approves restrictions on over‑the‑counter methamphetamine components
Summary
The House passed House Bill 429, which places certain over‑the‑counter pseudoephedrine products behind the counter and, in the bill's original form, avoids mandatory purchaser logs; a substitute calling for a statewide database was defeated and the original bill passed 70–0.
Representative Morley presented HB 429 to limit access to methamphetamine precursor components by placing products such as pseudoephedrine behind the counter. He offered an amendment that removed a log requirement and described a compromise agreeable to retailers and law enforcement.
Representative Hogue moved a substitute modeled on other states that would create a state database and keep purchaser records accessible to law enforcement; Hogue argued the substitute would enable officials to track repeat purchasers and reduce small‑scale lab production. Morley and other supporters resisted the substitute as overly burdensome and said the underlying bill is a practical, less intrusive step to limit theft and diversion.
The motion to substitute failed in a division (23 yes, 46 no). The House then voted on the original bill; the clerk announced HB 429 passed with 70 yes votes and 0 no votes and the bill was referred to the Senate.
What it means: The chamber approved a retailer‑backed approach to limit access to meth precursors by moving certain products behind the counter and removing an automatic log requirement; a proposal for a central purchaser database was rejected on the floor.
Next steps: HB 429 will be transmitted to the Senate for further consideration.
