Governor Abbott has officially released the agenda for the upcoming special session beginning July 21, and in a list dominated by disaster response, tax reform, and education, hemp policy earned two distinct spots.
Here’s what the proclamation includes regarding hemp:
- “Legislation making it a crime to provide hemp-derived products to children under 21 years of age.”
- “Legislation to comprehensively regulate hemp-derived products, including limiting potency, restricting synthetically modified compounds, and establishing enforcement mechanisms, all without banning a lawful agricultural commodity.”
The fact that these items are listed separately — rather than combined under a single hemp heading — is a critical detail. It suggests lawmakers may treat youth access and product regulation as independent issues, opening the door to multiple bills or layered policies. This will likely ensure an age gate law is sure to pass separate of other regulations.
Another important distinction is the mention of the following:
“…all without banning a lawful agricultural commodity.”
That’s a direct acknowledgment of what Texans made clear through recent polling, advocacy, and grassroots action: They want regulation, not prohibition.
Hemp Amid Property Taxes, Abortion, and Flood Relief
It’s also worth noting how hemp stacks up against the rest of the agenda. With only 18 items on the list, hemp is one of the most heavily spotlighted topics, appearing alongside other issues like:
- Redistricting
- Property tax reform
- The STAAR test
- Abortion legislation
- Border security
- Disaster relief and flood mitigation
While hemp isn’t listed at the top of the proclamation, it’s one of the few issues that appears twice — signaling that it remains a priority for this special session, even if it’s not being spotlighted as the headline issue. Lawmakers will be debating not just how to protect minors, but how to regulate the entire industry — potency, synthesis, enforcement — and that’s a conversation we need to be present for.
How You Can Help
A special session functions like a condensed version of a regular legislative session — with committee hearings in both chambers and potential opportunities for public testimony. That means we must stay activated and keep public pressure high throughout the process.
Now is the time to contact your state lawmakers and make your voice heard. Use our Legislator Contact Form to send a message directly to your representatives.
Then, share the link with your friends, family, customers, and community — the more voices speaking up, the stronger our impact will be.
