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S. 545, the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, would classify xylazine as a Schedule III controlled substance under federal law. Xylazine, also known as "tranq," is a veterinary tranquilizer increasingly found in the illicit drug supply, often mixed with fentanyl and other opioids. According to CDC data, xylazine was involved in over 6,000 drug poisoning deaths, making it the fourth most common substance in drug poisoning fatalities. If enacted, this bill would give law enforcement and the Drug Enforcement Administration tools to track the manufacturing and distribution of xylazine, disrupt criminal networks, and prevent its diversion into illegal markets.
The legislation includes protections for legitimate uses. It would allow veterinarians, farmers, ranchers, and wildlife personnel to continue accessing xylazine for lawful purposes. The bill provides transition periods for manufacturers and practitioners, exempting existing facilities from certain security requirements and delaying some regulatory compliance deadlines by one year. The bill also directs the Sentencing Commission to establish appropriate penalties for xylazine trafficking offenses and requires the Attorney General to report to Congress within 18 months on the prevalence and impacts of illicit xylazine use.
The bill has received bipartisan support from over 100 lawmakers, major law enforcement organizations representing more than one million officers, veterinary associations, and federal agencies including the Department of Justice and Drug Enforcement Administration. It passed the Senate Judiciary Committee and is now eligible for a floor vote.
AI-generated summary
Mar 12, 2026 · 10:15
On March 12, 2026, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary held a business meeting in the Hart Senate Office Building to consider two legislative items and several high-level executive nominations. The primary bills on the agenda were S. 545, the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, and H.R. 2159, the Count the Crimes to Cut Act. The meeting served as a critical step for the committee to review these measures and determine whether they should be reported to the full Senate for further consideration. The Combating Illicit Xylazine Act (S. 545) addresses the rising threat of xylazine, a veterinary sedative increasingly found in the illegal drug supply. The bill seeks to prohibit certain illicit uses of the substance while maintaining its availability for legitimate veterinary purposes. The Count the Crimes to Cut Act (H.R. 2159) focuses on government transparency by requiring the Attorney General to submit a comprehensive report to Congress detailing all federal criminal offenses. This initiative aims to provide a clearer picture of the federal criminal code, which many advocates argue has become overly broad and difficult for the public to navigate. In addition to the legislation, the committee reviewed nominations for several key positions within the Department of Justice. These included candidates for United States Attorneys in Utah, Alabama, and North Carolina, an Assistant Attorney General, and United States Marshals for districts in Louisiana, Missouri, and Florida. While this business meeting allowed members to deliberate on these items, the session itself does not guarantee that the bills will become law or that the nominees will be confirmed. Each item must successfully pass the committee vote before moving to the Senate floor for a final decision.
Mar 19, 2026 · 10:15
On March 19, 2026, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary held a business meeting to consider three legislative proposals and several executive nominations. The primary bills on the agenda included S. 545, the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, which seeks to prohibit certain uses of the sedative xylazine; H.R. 2159, the Count the Crimes to Cut Act, requiring a comprehensive report on federal criminal offenses; and S. 2934, the Protecting Americans from Russian Litigation Act of 2025, which aims to limit civil actions impacted by U.S. sanctions. Additionally, the committee reviewed nominees for high-level Department of Justice positions, including an Assistant Attorney General and several U.S. Marshals. Because this was a business meeting rather than a traditional evidentiary hearing, no outside witnesses were listed to testify. Instead, the session focused on the committee members' internal deliberation and potential voting on whether to report these items to the full Senate. The discussions centered on public safety, the transparency of the federal criminal code, and the legal implications of international sanctions. This meeting serves as a critical step in the legislative process, but it does not guarantee that the bills will become law or that the nominees will be confirmed. Following this session, the committee must vote to advance the legislation and nominations to the Senate floor for further debate and a final vote. If the committee does not reach a consensus or chooses not to hold a vote, the items may remain stalled in committee.
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Mar 26, 2026
Mar 12, 2026 · 10:15
On March 12, 2026, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary held a business meeting in the Hart Senate Office Building to consider two legislative items and several high-level executive nominations. The primary bills on the agenda were S. 545, the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, and H.R. 2159, the Count the Crimes to Cut Act. The meeting served as a critical step for the committee to review these measures and determine whether they should be reported to the full Senate for further consideration. The Combating Illicit Xylazine Act (S. 545) addresses the rising threat of xylazine, a veterinary sedative increasingly found in the illegal drug supply. The bill seeks to prohibit certain illicit uses of the substance while maintaining its availability for legitimate veterinary purposes. The Count the Crimes to Cut Act (H.R. 2159) focuses on government transparency by requiring the Attorney General to submit a comprehensive report to Congress detailing all federal criminal offenses. This initiative aims to provide a clearer picture of the federal criminal code, which many advocates argue has become overly broad and difficult for the public to navigate. In addition to the legislation, the committee reviewed nominations for several key positions within the Department of Justice. These included candidates for United States Attorneys in Utah, Alabama, and North Carolina, an Assistant Attorney General, and United States Marshals for districts in Louisiana, Missouri, and Florida. While this business meeting allowed members to deliberate on these items, the session itself does not guarantee that the bills will become law or that the nominees will be confirmed. Each item must successfully pass the committee vote before moving to the Senate floor for a final decision.
Mar 19, 2026 · 10:15
On March 19, 2026, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary held a business meeting to consider three legislative proposals and several executive nominations. The primary bills on the agenda included S. 545, the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, which seeks to prohibit certain uses of the sedative xylazine; H.R. 2159, the Count the Crimes to Cut Act, requiring a comprehensive report on federal criminal offenses; and S. 2934, the Protecting Americans from Russian Litigation Act of 2025, which aims to limit civil actions impacted by U.S. sanctions. Additionally, the committee reviewed nominees for high-level Department of Justice positions, including an Assistant Attorney General and several U.S. Marshals. Because this was a business meeting rather than a traditional evidentiary hearing, no outside witnesses were listed to testify. Instead, the session focused on the committee members' internal deliberation and potential voting on whether to report these items to the full Senate. The discussions centered on public safety, the transparency of the federal criminal code, and the legal implications of international sanctions. This meeting serves as a critical step in the legislative process, but it does not guarantee that the bills will become law or that the nominees will be confirmed. Following this session, the committee must vote to advance the legislation and nominations to the Senate floor for further debate and a final vote. If the committee does not reach a consensus or chooses not to hold a vote, the items may remain stalled in committee.
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Mar 26, 2026