Latest news with #HouseBill445
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alabama bill giving ABC Board regulation over THC products derived from hemp awaiting Gov. Ivey's signature
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WHNT) — A new bill to regulate THC products derived from hemp in Alabama has passed through the House and Senate and is headed to Governor Kay Ivey's desk. House Bill 445, sponsored by Andy Whitt, would grant the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to regulate all consumable hemp products through the licensure of manufacturers, wholesale distributors and retailers of consumable hemp products. The bill says that under existing law, products that have 'psychoactive cannabinoids found in or derived from hemp may not be sold to minors but are otherwise not regulated.' It also defines THC as 'any tetrahydrocannabinol derived from hemp, including, but not limited to, Delta-8, Delta-9 or Delta-10. Under HB445, if passed into law, it would: Impose testing and labeling requirements on all consumable hemp products sold in this state Authorize the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to license retailers of these products Establish restrictions on retail establishments Prohibit the sale of consumable hemp products to minors Prohibit the sale of smokable hemp products Prohibit online sales and direct delivery of consumable hemp products Impose an excise tax on consumable hemp products and provide for the distribution of tax proceeds Establish the Consumable Hemp Product Compliance Fund and provide for expenditures of the fund Authorize the board to seize unlawful consumable hemp products Provide for civil and criminal penalties for violations Repeal Section 13A-12-214.4, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the sale of psychoactive cannabinoids If signed into law, HB445 would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026. After this, 'consumable hemp products distributed into or within the state and offered for sale and sold to consumers in this state shall be governed by this chapter. The Alcoholic Beverage Control Board shall administer and enforce this chapter and shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this chapter.' The Consumable Hemp Product Compliance Fund, as stated in HB445, is created within the State Treasury and is said to be administered by the Board. 'All filing fees, annual license fees, and label approval fees collected under this chapter shall be deposited into the fund. Amounts deposited into the fund shall be budgeted and allotted in accordance with Sections 41-4-80 through 41-4-96 and Sections 41-19-1 through 41-19-12.,' the bill says. The bill defines the contents of the consumable hemp products: For a beverage or any edible product, a consumable hemp product may not contain more than 10 milligrams of total THC For any topical, sublingual, or other consumable hemp product not addressed in subdivision (1), one container of a consumable hemp product may not contain more than 40 milligrams of total THC All edible consumable hemp products shall be individually wrapped in single-serve packaging. One carton may not contain more than 40 milligrams of total THC A beverage serving size may not exceed 12 fluid ounces or 355 milliliters. One carton may not contain more than four 12-ounce containers A consumable hemp product may not contain alcohol, other than as a flavoring agent, or any other intoxicating compound other than cannabinoids The bill said that, if passed, a 10% excise tax would be levied on the retail sales price of consumable hemp products. This is in addition to any other tax imposed by federal, state or local law. The bill also lists out what each label/packaging for a consumable hemp product must contain at a minimum: May not bear the likeness or contain cartoon-like characteristics of a real or fictional person, animal, or fruit that appeals to children Must be child-resistant A list of all ingredients in descending order of predominance A scannable barcode or quick response code linked to the certificate of analysis The batch number that corresponds to the certificate of analysis The total number of milligrams of THC per serving May not be modeled after a brand of products primarily consumed by or marketed to children May not include a statement, artwork, or design that could reasonably mislead an individual to believe that the package contains anything other than a consumable hemp product The manufacture date and expiration date The total number of milligrams of THC found in the container and the serving size This bill was first introduced on March 18, it passed the House on April 10 and then passed the Senate on May 6. You can read what the full enrolled bill entails below. Alabama-2025-HB445-EnrolledDownload Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
Forbes
11-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Alabama House Passes Bill To Regulate Consumable Hemp Products
The Alabama House of Representative this week passed legislation to regulate consumable hemp goods, with supporters of the bill saying it is needed to keep intoxicating products out of the hands of children. The measure, House Bill 445 (HB 445), was approved by the House without debate on Thursday by a vote of 76-15, according to a report from 'This is one of the bills that I think you saw wide, bipartisan support,' Republican state Rep. Andy Whitt, the sponsor of the bill, told reporters after Thursday's vote. 'It affects every neighborhood across the state. These are unregulated, unchecked, and dangerous products that are being sold to our children in our convenience stores and retailers across the state, and it is time we put guardrails on this to protect our students in high school.' If passed by the Alabama Senate and signed into law by Republican Gov. Kay Ivey, HB 445 would authorize the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to regulate consumable hemp products. The board would be responsible for issuing licenses to oversee the manufacturing, distribution and sales of hemp consumables, similar to the agency's oversight of the state's alcoholic beverage industry. The measure also restricts sales of consumable hemp products to adults aged 21 and older. Sales would only be permitted by retailers that are licensed to sell alcoholic beverages and stand-alone shops that do not permit access to minors. HB 445 also sets a limit for consumable hemp products of 5mg THC, the cannabis compound primarily responsible for marijuana's psychoactive effects. The legislation also levies a tax on consumable hemp products. 'We are coming for the bad actors that put profit and the safety of our children. Convenience stores need to stick to selling gas and sodas, and they are not our local pharmacy stores. We're going to regulate these products,' Whitt said during a meeting of the House Health Committee, the Alabama Reflector reported. The lawmaker added that the state's current market for consumable hemp products is 'unregulated, unchecked and dangerous.' 'When you go into a convenience store and see these products, you think that someone has looked over them, and that is just complete inaccuracy,' Whitt added. Prior to Thursday's vote on the bill, Whitt told his colleagues in the House that the measure had taken on new urgency because of 'recent developments.' He said that a press release from hemp products manufacturer Herbal Oasis reported the company was expanding operations into Alabama, saying that 'their product will be in convenience stores, grocery stores and other locations throughout Alabama and Florida Panhandle, starting in late March.' The bill is opposed by representatives of Alabama's hemp products industry, including Carmelo Parasiliti, founder and CEO of Green Acres Organic Pharms in Florence, who told lawmakers that the 'data simply does not support the hysteria.' He added that the Alabama Poison Information Center reported 235 cases related to Delta-8 THC, a compound found in many consumable hemp products, in 2023, and that these cases represent just 0.018% of Alabama residents under 21. 'Most importantly, no deaths have occurred. Cannabinoids like Delta-8, CBD, and CBG are nonlethal, nonaddictive, and federally legal,' Parasiliti said. Molly Cole, a lobbyist for the Alabama Hemp and Vape Association, said the bill would 'eliminate over 10,000 jobs in Alabama.' 'Instead of rushing HB 445, I urge you to support a study commission. Bring together legislators, regulatory regulators, industry leaders and public health experts to craft long-term, evidence-based policy. Other states have done this successfully. Now Alabama can too,' Cole said. House Bill 445 now heads to the Alabama Senate for consideration.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Idaho House passes Water Resources budget with $30M for infrastructure projects
The Idaho State Capitol rotunda is pictured in this Jan. 23, 2024, photo. (Otto Kitsinger for Idaho Capital Sun) The Idaho House of Representatives voted 56-13 on Thursday to pass the Idaho Department of Water Resources budget with $30 million in new funding for water infrastructure projects. Idaho water issues came to a head last May when the Idaho Department of Water Resources director issued a curtailment order requiring 6,400 junior water rights holders who pump off the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer to shut off their water in order to protect senior water rights holders from a forecasted shortfall. The curtailment order was in place for about three weeks until the two sides reached an agreement that resolved the issue for 2024. The two sides then continued negotiations until the Surface Water Coalition and Idaho Groundwater Association reached a long-term settlement agreement last fall. Then, in conjunction with his Jan. 6 State of the State address, Idaho Gov. Brad Little called for spending $30 million on water projects to increase water levels in the aquifer and support the settlement agreement. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The $30 million was included in House Bill 445, the fiscal year 2026 budget enhancements for the Idaho Department of Water Resources, which the Idaho House took up Thursday. Several legislators stood up on the House floor and made passionate speeches in favor of approving the funding and the budget. 'Water is the lifeblood of our state,' Rep. David Cannon, R-Blackfoot, said. 'Water is the lifeblood of my legislative district. There is no more urgent issue in the immediate term or in the medium term or in the long term to the state of Idaho than water. And in my view, House Bill 445, is one of the most important bills to come through this session. And I urge unity. I urge the state to join together on this issue for the betterment of Idaho and for the protection of Idaho water going forward.' Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen, an Idaho Falls Republican and chair of the Idaho Ground Water Appropriators, said there are more water projects than there is money to go around, and many projects take multiple years to complete. But Mickelsen said legislators have a responsibility to protect water resources. She described investments in water projects as investments in the state's overall economy. 'I had ancestors that came and dug the very beginning of the canals in Taylor, Idaho,' Mickelsen said. 'And now I sit here and I look and we're not going to sacrifice anything to keep these waterways and this aquifer healthy? We could have the problems of the Ogallala (Aquifer) that are in Nebraska and Kansas, and they are a declining resource that they may not be able to save. The lucky thing for Idaho is we have plenty of water, but we have to make the investment to protect the resource that we have.' Not every legislator agreed with spending the money, however. CONTACT US 'I understand the importance of water in our state,' Rep. David Leavitt, R-Idaho Falls, said. 'It is the lifeblood of our state. It's what makes everything function, every single industry. But the reality is this is $30 million. This is a massive amount of money. And with this money, we don't know where it's going to be spent.' Several legislators pushed back, saying it is not true that the state doesn't know where the money is going or what the projects are for. Page 2 of the bill, beginning on line 38, states projects shall prioritize aquifer recharge, groundwater management, development and rehabilitation of water storage and conveyance systems, including reservoirs, diversion structures, pipelines and canals, water supply and delivery improvements that enhance efficiency and conservation, emergency water repairs and upgrades to ensure the reliance of vital water systems. Additionally, Rep. Wendy Horman, R-Idaho Falls, passed out documents to all legislators Thursday outlining specific water projects. 'That's why I handed out the list of projects – so you all can see this is not a secret,' Horman said. 'If you're not knowing what these projects are, it's only because you're not looking. Here they are!' After a passionate, hourlong debate the Idaho House voted 56-13 to pass the budget with the $30 million for water projects. House Bill 445 heads next to the Idaho Senate for consideration. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
