AGs Urge Congress to Pass Xylazine Control Act

AG: South Dakota Press Releases

Published March 31st, 2026

Detected April 1st, 2026

Summary

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley joined 40 other state Attorneys General in urging Congress to pass the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, which would classify Xylazine as a federally controlled substance. The coalition letter aims to help law enforcement combat the spread of illicit Xylazine, commonly known as 'tranq,' which is increasingly being mixed with fentanyl and poses significant public health dangers.

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What changed

A coalition of 41 state Attorneys General, led by New York, Arkansas, Connecticut, and Tennessee, sent a letter to Congress urging passage of the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act. Xylazine is a non-opioid veterinary tranquilizer used for large animals that is not approved for human use and does not respond to naloxone, greatly increasing lethality when mixed with opioids. South Dakota previously passed House Bill 1028 in 2024, making Xylazine possession and use a crime outside of veterinary livestock purposes.

This letter is advocacy to Congress for future federal action and does not create immediate compliance obligations for regulated entities. However, entities involved in pharmaceutical distribution, veterinary services, and controlled substance handling should monitor federal legislative developments regarding Xylazine scheduling. The document highlights a coordinated multi-state effort to address the growing public health threat from illicit Xylazine.

Source document (simplified)

Attorney General Marty Jackley

A TTORNEY OFFICE OF THE
SOUTH DAKOTA G ENERAL

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Attorney General Jackley Urges Congress to Pass Legislation Protecting Communities from Illicit Xylazine
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Contact: Tony Mangan, **** Communications Director, 605-773-6878

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley joins 40 other Attorneys General in urging Congress to pass the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, which would classify Xylazine as a federally controlled substance and would help law enforcement stop the spread of the drug.

“I have long stressed the public health dangers of Xylazine that is often mixed with fentanyl and other opioids,” said Attorney General Jackley. “South Dakota has been proactive in addressing this threat to communities while protecting its use for livestock purposes, and it is time for Congress to act now.”

Xylazine, widely known by its street name “tranq,” is a non-opioid veterinary tranquilizer used for large animals, including horses, and is not approved for any human use. Xylazine is not an opioid and therefore does not respond to the overdose reversal drug naloxone, thus greatly increasing its lethality when mixed with opioids.

In 2024, Attorney General Jackley proposed House Bill 1028 which makes the use and possession of Xylazine a crime in South Dakota outside of veterinary livestock purposes. The Attorney General’s bill was passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor.

The letter is led by the Attorneys General of New York, Arkansas, Connecticut, and Tennessee. Other Attorney Generals joining the letter are from: American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

A copy of the letter is found here: www.naag.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Combating-Illicit-Xylazine_FINAL.pdf

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