The Texas House of Representatives has passed an amended version of Senate Bill 3, reversing course from a committee-approved proposal to regulate hemp-derived THC products, instead reinstating a near-total ban similar to the version that passed the Senate in March.
As passed by the House, the legislation would outlaw nearly all consumable products containing THC derived from hemp, including edibles, beverages, tinctures, and vapes. The bill carves out limited exceptions for products containing only trace amounts of THC, effectively removing most items currently sold in the state’s multi-billion dollar hemp market.
The Senate approved a slightly different version of the bill in March, which would also ban all hemp-derived THC products. However, it was amended in the House State Affairs Committee to instead be a THC regulation bill. Despite the committee’s change, the full House approved an amendment to again ban, rather than regulate, hemp-based THC products.
The legislation now returns to the Senate, which must decide whether to concur with the House changes or convene a conference committee to resolve differences.
Lawmakers have until June 2, the end of the legislative session, to act.
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