“Dead Flowers” by the Rolling Stones embodies resentment for a toxic, one-sided relationship. One might interpret it as a portrait of someone who has been used and discarded.

Flower (and for that matter any hemp product) will not be discarded by the Texas Hemp Business Council, which was formed to represent the entire hemp industry, and not just a few, preferred products. Anything you hear to the contrary is propaganda, being peddled in all likelihood by rival industry groups.

Speaking of which, please refer to the THBC’s written comments as submitted to the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), which was widely shared with other groups in hopes that they too might submit relevant commentary in support of the industry.


A Calendar of Consequence:

2026 will make or break the hemp industry in Texas. Please support the THBC by becoming a member today, as representation (both before the legislature and in the courtroom), are costly undertakings.

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Consider the following:

  • February: Health and Human Services Commission continues to contemplate written remarks to it’s proposed rules and may (in part or in whole) move to adopt them, according to the Commissioner Muth’s disposition.

    THBC has prepared a temporary restraining order (TRO) in anticipation of this but is of course waiting to see what HHSC does.

  • February 9: Interim study requests are due from legislative committee chairs in the House of Representatives. These interim study issues (as selected by the Speaker) will then merit further investigation by committees of jurisdiction over the summer months, resulting in recommendations for legislation in the Fall to early Winter of 2026.

  • February 17: The first day for early voting (in person) for the March Primary. As it’s name suggests, the Primary will determine the standard bearer for either party, if there is a contested seat on either the Democrat or Republican side of the aisle.

  • February 20th: The day where requests for interim studies by legislative committees are due. You can bet the Lt. Governor and Sen. Perry will have a few ideas in that regard, especially in light of HHSC’s limited ability to address certain subject matters such as the definition of hemp.

  • February 27: The last day for early voting

  • March 3: The Texas Primary election. Recall that Texas employs an “open primary” in which you may vote either in the Republican or the Democratic parties primary, regardless of which party you personally affiliate with. The choice is private and made at the polling place by you announcing to the poll worker that you would like to vote in.

    THBC strongly encourages you, your family and your customers to signal your discontent with certain leaders within the Republican Party. To put a finer point on it, vote for any of the candidates opposing Dan Patrick for Lt. Governor.

    Keep in mind that you will be able to vote for whomever you want in November’s General Election, regardless of which party you vote in. However – if there were to be a runoff election (because neither candidate captures over 50% of the primary vote) you will not be able to vote in it – unless you voted in that party’s primary. Dream scenario? The public shows up en mass to force a runoff between the Lt. Governor and an opponent.

  • April: Likely the earliest the Texas Supreme Court will return its verdict in the ongoing Sky Marketing v. State of Texas case. In this case, Sky Marketing contends that the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) overstepped its bounds by attempting to criminalize, via agency rule, a substance the legislature made statutorily legal. This evokes the legal term of art “ultra vires,” which indicates an agency has acted outside its legal authority, rendering that action null and void.

  • June – September: Interim legislative studies may begin throughout the summer months, into early fall.

  • November: Interim committee reports are likely to be issued in Texas.

  • November 12: New federal guidelines redefining what constitutes as “hemp” kick in unless the runway is extended for further evaluation or a new definition is adopted by the U.S. Congress.

  • December: Pre-filing of legislation begins in Texas, in anticipation of the 2027 legislative session.


Thank you for your continued support,
Mark Bordas, THBC