A group of lawmakers in the Texas Senate has introduced new legislation that would legalize marijuana for adults and establish a regulated commercial industry.
Filed today as Senate Bill 54, the proposal is sponsored by Senators Nathan Johnson, Carol Alvarado, Molly Cook, Roland Gutierrez, Jose Menendez, and Borris Miles, all Democrats. The measure covers a broad regulatory framework, from cultivation and manufacturing to sales and taxation, and includes language to expunge criminal records for certain past marijuana offenses.
According to the bill summary, SB 54 relates to “the regulation of the cultivation, manufacture, processing, distribution, sale, testing, transportation, delivery, transfer, possession, use, and taxation of cannabis and cannabis products.” It also grants authority for local regulation of licensed cannabis growers, cannabis establishments, testing facilities, and secure transporters. In addition to creating a licensing structure and allowing for the imposition of fees and taxes, the bill would provide a path for clearing past records tied to now-decriminalized conduct.
The legislation comes less than a week after the filing of House Bill 195, a marijuana legalization measure introduced by Representative Jessica González (D). HB 195 would legalize possession of up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and 15 grams of concentrates for adults 21 and older. While it would allow adults to gift marijuana to one another and store up to 10 ounces at home, the bill does not include provisions for home cultivation.
Under HB 195, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation would be tasked with overseeing the commercial marijuana market and issuing licenses by November 1, 2026. Tax revenue would be allocated to regulatory agencies, local governments, and the state’s Foundation School Program.
The push for legalization also comes as Texas lawmakers weigh Senate Bill 5, a separate proposal that would impose a statewide ban on hemp-derived THC products, including delta-8 and delta-9. That measure was recently advanced by the State Affairs Committee.
With legalization proposals now active in both chambers, Texas lawmakers could be headed for a major debate over the future of marijuana policy in the upcoming legislative session.
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