TX
Texas House Bill HB3948

Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB3948

Caption

Relating to the production and regulation of hemp and consumable hemp products; providing administrative penalties; creating a criminal offense.

Impact

This legislation is poised to significantly impact existing state laws regulating hemp by defining clear protocols for research, production, and distribution. By requiring institutions of higher education to obtain licenses for hemp research and exempting them from certain fees, the bill aims to foster academic research while also holding commercial entities to stricter standards regarding product claims. Notably, the introduction of penalties for misleading claims about product sourcing establishes a framework for consumer protection in the hemp market.

Summary

House Bill 3948 sets forth new regulations concerning the production, sale, and handling of hemp and consumable hemp products in Texas. It emphasizes the establishment of licensing requirements for institutions conducting research on hemp and lays out the guidelines for the testing and labeling of consumable hemp products. A critical component of the bill includes provisions aimed at ensuring that products are accurately labeled regarding their production and processing claims, particularly regarding their source from Texas.

Sentiment

The sentiment around HB 3948 appears to be generally supportive among proponents of hemp legalization and economic diversification in agriculture. Advocates argue that it reinforces Texas's commitment to a legitimate hemp market while ensuring consumer safety through better labeling and testing regulations. However, concerns have been raised by some stakeholders regarding the complexities of compliance and the financial implications for smaller businesses operating within the hemp space.

Contention

Certain points of contention arise from the bill's provisions related to administrative penalties and criminal offenses. Opponents of the bill argue that the criminalization of certain violations might be excessive and could potentially hinder the growth of a nascent industry. The balance between fostering research and creating a strict regulatory environment is a key area of debate, with some fearing that overly stringent regulations might stifle innovation and market entry for smaller producers.

Companion Bills

TX SB1778

Same As Relating to the production and regulation of hemp and consumable hemp products; providing administrative penalties; imposing and authorizing fees; creating a criminal offense.

Previously Filed As

TX SB321

Relating to the production and regulation of hemp; providing administrative penalties; creating a criminal offense.

TX HB2818

Relating to the production and regulation of hemp; providing an administrative penalty; requiring a permit to conduct certain research involving hemp; authorizing a fee; creating a criminal offense.

TX HB4439

Relating to the production, sale, distribution, delivery, and regulation of consumable hemp products; creating a criminal offense.

TX HB4238

Relating to the production, sale, distribution, delivery, and regulation of consumable hemp products.

TX SB264

Relating to the production, sale, distribution, delivery, and regulation of consumable hemp products.

TX HB1937

Relating to the regulation of the cultivation, manufacture, processing, distribution, sale, testing, transportation, delivery, transfer, possession, use, and taxation of cannabis and cannabis products and local regulation of cannabis establishments; authorizing the imposition of fees; requiring an occupational license; creating a criminal offense; imposing a tax.

TX HB1831

Relating to the regulation of the cultivation, manufacture, processing, distribution, sale, testing, transportation, delivery, transfer, possession, use, and taxation of cannabis and cannabis products and the local regulation of cannabis establishments; providing for expunction of records relating to certain decriminalized conduct; authorizing the imposition of fees; requiring an occupational license; creating a criminal offense; imposing a tax.

TX HB3652

Relating to the regulation of the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, sale, testing, possession, and use of cannabis and cannabis products; authorizing the imposition of taxes and fees; requiring an occupational license; creating a criminal offense.

TX SB209

Relating to regulating the cultivation, manufacture, processing, distribution, sale, testing, transportation, delivery, transfer, possession, and use of cannabis and cannabis products; authorizing the imposition of fees; requiring occupational licenses; creating a criminal offense.

TX HB2324

Relating to the regulation of certain health professionals and health facilities; providing civil and administrative penalties; creating a criminal offense.

Similar Bills

TX SB2952

Relating to the regulation of hemp and nonconsumable hemp products; increasing a criminal penalty; increasing a civil penalty and providing other penalties; requiring an occupational license; imposing and authorizing certain fees.

TX SB1778

Relating to the production and regulation of hemp and consumable hemp products; providing administrative penalties; imposing and authorizing fees; creating a criminal offense.

TX HB2818

Relating to the production and regulation of hemp; providing an administrative penalty; requiring a permit to conduct certain research involving hemp; authorizing a fee; creating a criminal offense.

TX SB321

Relating to the production and regulation of hemp; providing administrative penalties; creating a criminal offense.

TX SB1240

Relating to the production and regulation of hemp; requiring an occupational license; authorizing fees.

TX HB1325

Relating to the production and regulation of hemp; requiring occupational licenses; authorizing fees; creating criminal offenses; providing civil and administrative penalties.

TX HB1113

Relating to the production and regulation of hemp; providing an administrative penalty; requiring a permit to conduct certain research involving hemp; authorizing a fee; creating a criminal offense.

SD SB201

Revise provisions regarding industrial hemp and to declare an emergency.