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HB1103 • 2026

Medetomidine; manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing, penalties.

An Act to amend and reenact § 18.2-251.5 of the Code of Virginia, relating to manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing medetomidine; penalties.

Crime
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Hodges
Last action
2026-04-08
Official status
Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify an exact financial impact on the state for increased imprisonment.

Medetomidine and Xylazine Penalties

This act changes laws about making, selling, giving, distributing, or having medetomidine or xylazine for human use to make them illegal with penalties.

What This Bill Does

  • Makes it a felony (serious crime) to knowingly manufacture, sell, give, distribute, or possess with intent to do so medetomidine or xylazine meant for humans.
  • Makes it a misdemeanor (lesser crime) to knowingly have medetomidine or xylazine meant for human use.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who manufacture, sell, give, distribute, or possess with intent to do so medetomidine or xylazine meant for humans.
  • Veterinarians and those working in animal care who need to use these substances legally.

Terms To Know

Felony
A serious crime that can lead to a long prison sentence.
Misdemeanor
A less serious crime than a felony, often resulting in shorter jail time or fines.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The exact financial impact on the state for increased imprisonment is not clear and requires further study by the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-08 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 447 (effective 7/1/2026)

  2. 2026-04-08 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0447)

  3. 2026-04-01 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1103)

  4. 2026-03-31 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  5. 2026-03-31 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  6. 2026-03-31 House

    Signed by Speaker

  7. 2026-03-31 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  8. 2026-03-31 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  9. 2026-03-30 Senate

    Signed by President

  10. 2026-03-30 House

    Enrolled

  11. 2026-03-30 House

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1103ER)

  12. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Read third time

  13. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Read third time

  14. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  15. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Rules suspended

  16. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  17. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  18. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  19. 2026-03-06 Finance and Appropriations

    Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)

  20. 2026-03-02 Courts of Justice

    Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)

  21. 2026-02-18 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  22. 2026-02-18 Courts of Justice

    Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  23. 2026-02-17 House

    Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

  24. 2026-02-16 House

    Read second time and engrossed

  25. 2026-02-15 House

    Read first time

  26. 2026-02-13 Courts of Justice

    Reported from Courts of Justice (21-Y 0-N)

  27. 2026-02-11 Criminal

    Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 0-N)

  28. 2026-02-10 Criminal

    Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal

  29. 2026-01-17 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1103)

  30. 2026-01-14 House

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103688D

  31. 2026-01-14 Courts of Justice

    Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

  32. 2026-01-14 House

    Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/14/2026 6:17 pm)

Official Summary Text

Manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing medetomidine; penalties.
Provides that any person who knowingly manufactures, sells, gives, distributes, or possesses with the intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute the substance medetomidine, when intended for human consumption, is guilty of a Class 5 felony. Under the bill, any person who knowingly possesses medetomidine, when intended for human consumption, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Under the bill, it is not an offense to (i) manufacture medetomidine for legitimate veterinary use; (ii) distribute or sell medetomidine for authorized veterinary use; (iii) possess, administer, prescribe, or dispense medetomidine in good faith for use by animals within the course of legitimate veterinary practice; or (iv) possess or administer medetomidine pursuant to a valid prescription from a licensed veterinarian.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
An Act to amend and reenact §
18.2-251.5
of the Code of Virginia, relating to manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing medetomidine; penalties.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §
18.2-251.5
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§
18.2-251.5
. Manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing medetomidine or xylazine; penalties.
A. Any person who knowingly manufactures, sells, gives, distributes, or possesses with the intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute the substance
medetomidine or
xylazine, when intended for human consumption, is guilty of a Class 5 felony.
B. Any person who knowingly possesses the substance
medetomidine or
xylazine, when intended for human consumption, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
C. Notwithstanding subsections A and B, it shall not be an offense to (i) manufacture
medetomidine or
xylazine for legitimate veterinary use; (ii) distribute or sell
medetomidine or
xylazine for authorized veterinary use; (iii) possess, administer, prescribe, or dispense
medetomidine or
xylazine in good faith for use by animals within the course of legitimate veterinary practice; or (iv) possess or administer
medetomidine or
xylazine pursuant to a valid prescription from a licensed veterinarian.
2. That the provisions of this act may result in a net increase in periods of imprisonment or commitment. Pursuant to §
30-19.1:4
of the Code of Virginia, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of imprisonment in state adult correctional facilities; therefore, Chapter 725 of the Acts of Assembly of 2025 requires the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission to assign a minimum fiscal impact of $50,000. Pursuant to §
30-19.1:4
of the Code of Virginia, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of commitment to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.