US SB3076

Permanently classifies 2-benzylbenzimidazole opioids (nitazenes) as Schedule I controlled substances under the Controlled Substances Act, covering the entire chemical class rather than individual compounds

Specifically names 11 nitazene compounds including etonitazene, clonitazene, metonitazene, isotonitazene, and protonitazene, while also defining the broader chemical structure to capture future analogs

Converts any nitazenes currently under temporary DEA scheduling to permanent Schedule I status upon enactment

Research pathways established under the HALT Fentanyl Act (Public Law 119-26) apply to scheduled nitazenes, though new research requires proper registration and scheduling compliance

Addresses synthetic opioids first developed in the 1950s that have emerged as designer drugs in the illicit supply, with some variants exceeding fentanyl's potency at the mu-opioid receptor