South Dakota will classify medetomidine, a sedative drug, as a Schedule III controlled substance, making it illegal to possess or use except in specific situations. Veterinarians and pharmacists can still legally use medetomidine to treat animals through FDA-approved medications, for experimental uses, or for compounding prescriptions. This change aligns South Dakota's drug classification with federal regulations while carving out exceptions for legitimate animal medical care.
This change is a formatting and enactment update—the substantive language classifying medetomidine as Schedule III and defining its permissible uses remains identical, but the enrolled version removes the "Introduced by" credit and explanatory markup while adding official enactment certification pages, signature lines, and filing information required for final passage. The bill's actual regulatory purpose is unchanged.
Signed by the Governor H.J. 534
Delivered to the Governor H.J. 497
Signed by the President S.J. 448
Signed by the Speaker H.J. 477
Senate Do Pass Passed, YEAS 32, NAYS 0. S.J. 412
Health and Human Services Certified uncontested, placed on consent S.J. 21
Health and Human Services Do Pass Passed, YEAS 7, NAYS 0. S.J. 21
Health and Human Services Scheduled for hearing S.J. 1
First read in Senate and referred to Senate Health and Human Services S.J. 260
House of Representatives Do Pass Passed, YEAS 63, NAYS 3. H.J. 295
Health and Human Services Certified uncontested, placed on consent
Health and Human Services Do Pass Passed, YEAS 11, NAYS 0.
Health and Human Services Scheduled for hearing
First read in House and referred to House Health and Human Services H.J. 163
Prime sponsor · Rep.
R
Prime sponsor · Sen.
R
Do Pass
Health and Human Services — Do Pass
Do Pass
Health and Human Services — Do Pass