Enables GABA-A receptor activity; chloride channel activity; and inhibitory extracellular ligand-gated ion channel activity. Contributes to GABA receptor activity. Involved in GABAergic synaptic transmission; cellular response to histamine; and chloride transmembrane transport. Located in cytosol and membrane. Is integral component of plasma membrane. Part of GABA-A receptor complex. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in autistic disorder and developmental and epileptic encephalopathy 92. Orthologous to human GABRB2 (gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor subunit beta2). [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Apr 2022]