A key committee in the Illinois House of Representatives has scheduled a public hearing on a bill dubbed the “Kratom Consumer Protection Act”.
A bowl of kratom powder, kratom pills, and kratom leaves.
Filed on January 13 by Representative Curtis Tarver, Illinois House Bill 1303 has since garnered three bipartisan sponsors. The bill would prohibit the distribution of kratom to individuals under 21, including establishing “online age verification”, and it would ban products that are deemed “attractive to children”.
The measure states that “no person shall offer for sale any kratom product that contains synthesized or semi-synthesized kratom alkaloids or kratom constituents.. or certain chemical compositions”
Under the proposed law, a statewide 5% retail tax on kratom would be established, with quarterly returns required. Violations of the act’s regulations would result in fines up to $20,000 and potential sales bans for repeat offenders. The bill also repeals the Kratom Control Act, introducing stricter regulations and statewide uniformity.
The Illinois Department of Revenue would oversee tax collection and enforcement, while the Department of Public Health would be tasked with regulating kratom product safety and compliance. Revenue from the proposed 5% retail tax would be deposited into the state’s General Revenue Fund, though the bill does not earmark funds for specific programs.
For the full text of HB 1303, click here.
