Meltzer
Two bills filed by state legislators representing parts of Bartholomew County have moved closer to becoming signed into law.
HB 1286, filed by Rep. Jennifer Meltzer, R-Shelbyville, cleared the Senate in a 49-0 vote on Monday and now heads to the governor’s desk for consideration. The bill would require a coroner to test for an animal sedative called xylazine if he or she “reasonably suspects” that a person died from an overdose.
Xylazine, also known by its street name “tranq,” is a veterinary drug first developed in the 1960s as a sedative and muscle relaxer for animals like cattle, horses and elk, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
However, the drug, which is not approved for human use, has been popping up in “an increasing number of illicit drug mixtures” and “has also been detected in a growing number of overdose deaths” across the country, according to a DEA report published in October.
Xylazine already is included among the substances that the Bartholomew County Coroner’s Office tests for in toxicology screenings, Bartholomew County Deputy Coroner Jay Frederick said previously.
The Bartholomew County Coroner’s Office said in its most recent annual report that the drug has been detected in toxicology screenings one time each year from 2019 to 2022. All of those cases also involved fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times more potent than heroin that officials say is largely responsible for a historic rise in overdose deaths across the country, including Bartholomew County.
“This substance has already been found in Shelby County, and the more data we see shows that it’s a growing problem nationally,” Meltzer said in a statement. “By gathering more data, we can better determine the prevalence of xylazine and take action.”
Additionally, SB 33, filed by Sen. Greg Walker, R-Columbus, passed the House on Monday in a 95-0 vote. The bill would direct the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to conduct a study on the decommissioning and disposal of solar panels and wind power equipment.
The bill was temporarily held up in the House Committee on Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications earlier this month to look at potential amendments that would adjust the responsible parties for the study.
The committee amended the bill last week to state that the study would be conducted and overseen by IDEM, which will collaborate with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. The bill previously said it would be a joint study between the two agencies.
The amendment also pushed back one year the deadline for IDEM to report the study’s findings until Nov. 1, 2024.
The bill cleared the committee in a 13-0 vote on March 21 before cruising through the House on Monday. Next, the Senate, which passed a previous version of the bill, will consider the changes made by the House. If the Senate agrees, the bill will head to the governor’s desk.
Walker did not respond to requests for comment on the passage of his bill.
