Committee votes to classify veterinary sedative as Schedule III with veterinary exemptions

The Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee approved House Bill 2529, which the transcript describes as classifying the veterinary sedative referred to in testimony as "metatomidine" as a Schedule III controlled substance under Pennsylvania law while explicitly preserving exemptions for licensed veterinary use.

Representative Hanbridge told the committee the bill responds to what she described as a "rapidly growing and dangerous threat" in the illicit drug supply. She said, "approximately 80 percent of fentanyl supplies in Pennsylvania are contaminated with the substance," warned that the drug can cause "extreme sedation, dangerously low heart rates, and severe withdrawal symptoms," and asserted that some studies show "between 75 and 95 percent of people experiencing withdrawal need ICU level medical care." She cited Act 17 (2024), which classified xylazine, as precedent for scheduling similar veterinary sedatives. The sponsor also said the bill would keep legitimate veterinary access via clear exemptions and add secure-storage requirements.

The transcript contains inconsistent spellings for the drug (for example "metatomidine," "metatomedine" in different places); this article uses the spelling "metatomidine" to reflect the sponsor's usage in the hearing, and notes that the sponsor cited studies and data during remarks but did not provide citations in the committee record. Those numerical claims were reported as statements by the sponsor and are presented here as such; the committee record does not include supporting documents in the transcript.

The chair called for opposition and recorded no negative responses; he announced that House Bill 2529 passes the committee by voice vote. Individual roll-call tallies were not recorded in the transcript.