INDUSTRY UPDATES

April 18, 2025

Bill Updates in Nine States: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Nevada, Tennessee, and Texas

Alabama: HB 445, which limits hemp beverages to 5mg THC per serving and restricts sales to liquor stores, is being fast-tracked for a Senate floor vote ahead of the May 7 session deadline. (more info)


Arizona: While hemp-ban bills were defeated, an AG opinion deems most hemp products illegal with enforcement set for April 24, prompting a legal challenge from HITA for which they are requesting monetary support. (more info)


Arkanses: HB 533, which would effectively ban most hemp products by limiting THC to 1mg per container, has passed the legislature and awaits the governor’s signature.(more info)


California: SB 378 aims to ban DTC sales of hemp products containing any THC, continuing the state’s push toward stricter hemp restrictions. (more info)


Connecticut: HB 6855, which supports hemp flower sales and expands cannabis business operations, is advancing to the House floor. (more info)


Florida: Revisions to HB 7027 would allow more retail access, ease THC limits, and prevent monopolistic distribution, while HB 7029 would cut hemp excise taxes from 60% to 15%. (more info)


Nevada: SB 356, which would have banned hemp products above THC detection limits, is dead due to a legislative deadline. (more info)


Tennessee: HB 1376, a sweeping rewrite of state hemp regulations, shifts oversight to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission, bans DTC sales and THCa, and passed the Senate 23-9 this week, moving next to the Governor’s desk for signature. (more info)


Texas: HB 28 and SB 3, which would ban all THC and most hemp products except beverages, remain stalled in House committee amid broader debates over the future of cannabis regulation. (more info)

Use our State Action Center to contact lawmakers and protect the future of hemp in your state.

Take Action Now

A big thank you to all hemp supporters for taking action to ensure that harmful bills, which would have been detrimental to the hemp industry in their respective states, did not become law!

Alabama

In Alabama, HB 445 passed out of Senate Committee this week and is scheduled for a hearing on the Senate floor. This bill is being fast tracked to be passed ahead of the May 7 conclusion of the legislative session.  HB 445 would limit hemp beverages to 5mg THC per serving and restrict sales to liquor stores. Please use our State Action Center to urge lawmakers to oppose HB 445.

Alabama Action Center

Arizona

Our great news last week from Arizona – Hemp Supporters led by the Hemp Industry Trade Association of Arizona (HITA) were able to defeat a handful of hemp-ban bills – is tempered by an Opinion Letter recently issued by Attorney General Kris Mayes which falsely contends that most hemp products are illegal. Worse yet, she has set an enforcement deadline of April 24. HITA is now filing a lawsuit that asks for declaratory judgment and a request for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO). To support this lawsuit, HITA has launched a Legal Defense Fund and has already raised an initial portion of the required legal fees. Please consider contributing to the HITA Legal Defense Fund: click here.

HITA Legal Defense Fund

Arkansas

Arkansas’ HB 533 regulates the manufacture, production, distribution, and sale of consumable hemp products in Arkansas and charges the Tobacco Control Board with the regulation of consumable hemp products. This bill would virtually eliminate the entire hemp market by limiting consumable hemp product to 1mg per container. The legislation has passed both Chambers and is awaiting Governor Sanders’ signature.  Please use our State Action Center to urge Governor Sanders to veto this bill!

Contact Arkansas Legislators

California

In California, SB 378 was introduced at the request of the Newsom administration purportedly to respond to the online sale of cannabis and hemp products that are not compliant with California law. It is apparently directed at banning the direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales of most hemp products (every product with any level of THC) — the administration’s next prohibitionary step that began with the emergency regulations in September. Please use our State Action Center to urge lawmakers to oppose this bill.

California Action Center

Connecticut

In Connecticut, HB6855 has been reported favorably by committee and is heading to the House floor.  The bill allows for the sale of hemp flower and expands the entities to which cannabis establishments can sell or transfer products and removes location restrictions for equity joint ventures.  Please use our State Action Center to urge lawmakers to support this bill. 

Connecticut Action Center

Florida

In Florida, the House Budget Committee heard from Rep. Michelle Salzman about her bills HB 7027 (regulatory) and HB 7029 (taxes)  this week. The Roundtable team has been working over the last week with Rep. Salzman and staff on revisions to HB 7027, and during her bill presentation,  Rep. Salzman outlined some of the amendments that may be included in the new version of the bill, including the following issues that we raised with her:

  • Convenience Store Beverage sales, once prohibited, would now be allowed, and as well as other hemp consumable products, behind the counter;
  • Movement toward parity of THC dosage limits between edibles and beverages (10 mg of THC for a 2 gram edible; 10mg of THC per 12 oz beverage); 
  • No 3-tier distribution system or sales of beverages exclusive to liquor stores, but retailers would need a beverage sales license; 
  • No total ban on synthetic THC, but THC cap applies to all deltas; and 
  • Possibly removing the plan to halve the serving limits in 2029.

HB 7027 passed the Budget Committee, and will be heard in the House Commerce Committee next week with the amendment. 
 
The hemp tax bill, HB 7029, was also heard and passed the committee as well. The bill reduces the excise tax on Hemp sales from 60% to 15%, a major change. Here are the details in the hemp tax bill.  The bill allocates the first $6 million of tax proceeds for enforcement and testing, with remaining funds deposited into the General Revenue Fund.

We are watching these developments closely and will keep you updated. In the meantime, if you live in Florida, please be sure to send a message to legislators using our State Action Center. 

Florida Action Center

Nevada

There is good news to report out of Nevada!  We’ve been vocal about our opposition to  SB 356, which would have prohibited the sale of consumable hemp products with THC concentrations above the limit of detection. A standing rule does not allow action in the committee of origin after the 68th day of the session, which was April 12.  As it stands, this bill is effectively dead!

Nevada Action Center

Tennessee

In Tennessee, HB 1376 is a total rewrite of hemp regulations in the state. The bill shifts from the Department of Agriculture to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission the regulation and oversight of hemp products and creates a regulatory structure parallel to that of liquor utilizing a three-tiered system in which all taxes are collected at the wholesale level and requires that products move through a licensed wholesaler. The bill bans direct to consumer sales while allowing licensed retailers in the state to sell directly to out of state consumers. The bill also bans the sale and use of THCa. 
 
This week, the Senate substituted and conformed to the House version of the legislation and passed it, 23-9. The bill now goes to the House and Senate Speakers for signatures before heading to Governor Lee. If signed, the bill will become effective in January 2026.

Tennessee Action Center

Texas

In Texas, both HB 28 and SB 3 were held in House committee this week. The bills are caught up in discussions about the future of medical cannabis use in the state. Lawmakers are realizing that banning all THC will allow bad actors to infiltrate the market and continued negotiations are taking place. If passed, these bills would ban the sale and use of all THC products and would ban the manufacture and sale of all consumable and inhalable hemp products, with an exception for hemp beverages. Please use our State Action Center to urge lawmakers to oppose these bills.

Texas Action Center

Visit our State Action Center to see active campaigns across the country!

State Action Center

Check out the latest hemp and CBD updates from across the states!