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Ordinance#260495Pending Committee Action
In plain English

The ordinance aims to ban the retail sale of nitrous oxide, allowing exceptions for specific uses like medical procedures and food production. Violating this ban could result in fines, imprisonment, and other penalties, with enforcement handled by the Director of Public Health.

Ordinance amending the Police Code to prohibit the retail sale of nitrous oxide, with exceptions for medical or dental procedures, research and development, manufacturing or industrial operations, and food-product purposes; make violations of the prohibition an infraction or misdemeanor, subject to imprisonment and or fine; authorize the Director of Public Health to enforce the prohibition; and make violations of the prohibition a public nuisance, subject to administrative fines, civil penalties, and revocation of a tobacco sales permit.

Introduced: May 5, 2026
Final action: โ€”
Official record โ†—

How it got here

The legislation originated from concerns about the misuse of nitrous oxide in San Francisco, prompting a proposal to amend the Police Code to prohibit its retail sale.

1
Introduction of OrdinanceMay 2026
Board of Supervisors

The Board of Supervisors introduced an ordinance to amend the Police Code to prohibit the retail sale of nitrous oxide, with exceptions for specific uses. This was in response to rising concerns about the misuse of nitrous oxide, particularly among youth.

FYI Referral 050826
2
Referral to Small Business CommissionMay 8, 2026
Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee

The ordinance was referred to the Small Business Commission for comments and recommendations, indicating the city's intent to gather input from various stakeholders.

FYI Referral SBC 050826
3
Budget and Legislative Analyst ReportJuly 22, 2026
Budget and Finance Committee

The Budget and Legislative Analyst presented a report to the Budget and Finance Committee, highlighting the estimated costs and implications of the ordinance, including potential enforcement challenges and the lack of local data on nitrous oxide misuse.

BLA Rpt 072226
4
Public OppositionJuly 21, 2026
Community Organizations

A coalition of civil rights and community organizations expressed opposition to the ordinance, citing concerns about its potential impact on vulnerable communities and the lack of data justifying the need for such enforcement.

Post-Pkt Public Correspondence
5
Assignment Under 30 Day Rule2026-05-05
Board of Supervisors

The ordinance was assigned under the 30-day rule, indicating that it would be reviewed and acted upon within a specified timeframe.

Action history
6
Referral to Department2026-05-08
Clerk of the Board

The ordinance was referred to relevant departments for further review and input, a standard procedure for proposed legislation.

Action history
7
Transfer of Ordinance2026-07-08
President of the Board

The ordinance was transferred within the Board of Supervisors, indicating ongoing discussions and potential amendments before final approval.

Action history

Reconstructed from attached documents & the official record

Document trail
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Leg Dig Ver1
Official legislation text
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BLA Rpt 072226
Budget and Legislative Analyst
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How they voted

No recorded roll-call vote yet. This item may have passed without a recorded individual vote, or is still pending.

Legislative journey

PresidentMay 5, 2026
โ†’ASSIGNED UNDER 30 DAY RULE
Clerk of the BoardMay 8, 2026
โ†’REFERRED TO DEPARTMENT
โ†’REFERRED TO DEPARTMENT
PresidentJul 8, 2026
ยทTRANSFERRED