S.B. No. 6 seeks to regulate consumable hemp products and hemp-derived cannabinoids in Texas by establishing comprehensive licensing requirements, fees, and criminal offenses for non-compliance. The bill amends the Health and Safety Code to define "consumable hemp product" as items suitable for human ingestion, absorption, or inhalation, and introduces a new definition for "minor" as individuals under 21 years of age. It exempts low-THC cannabis and certain research activities from these regulations while imposing stringent testing and registration requirements for manufacturers and retailers. Key provisions include a $10,000 initial licensing fee for manufacturers, a $20,000 annual registration fee for retailers, and a $500 application fee for product registration, along with mandates for testing products for cannabinoid concentration and contaminants before sale.

The bill also establishes criminal offenses related to the distribution, sale, or use of unregistered consumable hemp products, classifying these as Class B misdemeanors. It requires specific labeling for products, including batch identification and cannabinoid concentrations, and mandates tamper-evident and child-resistant packaging. Marketing practices that appeal to minors are prohibited, with violations classified as Class A misdemeanors. Additionally, the bill outlines penalties for selling consumable hemp products to minors and for manufacturing or selling products intended for smoking, with potential driver's license suspensions and community service requirements for offenders. The Department of Health and Human Services is empowered to enforce these regulations, investigate complaints, and impose fines for violations, while several existing sections of the Health and Safety Code are repealed. The bill is set to take effect 91 days after the legislative session concludes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Health and Safety Code 431.011, Health and Safety Code 443.001, Health and Safety Code 443.051, Health and Safety Code 443.104, Health and Safety Code 443.151, Health and Safety Code 443.152, Health and Safety Code 443.2025, Health and Safety Code 443.203, Health and Safety Code 443.204, Health and Safety Code 443.205, Health and Safety Code 443.206, Health and Safety Code 443.207 (Health and Safety Code 443, Health and Safety Code 431)
Senate Committee Report: Health and Safety Code 431.011, Health and Safety Code 443.001, Health and Safety Code 443.051, Health and Safety Code 443.104, Health and Safety Code 443.151, Health and Safety Code 443.152, Health and Safety Code 443.2025, Health and Safety Code 443.203, Health and Safety Code 443.204, Health and Safety Code 443.205, Health and Safety Code 443.206, Health and Safety Code 443.207 (Health and Safety Code 443, Health and Safety Code 431)
Engrossed: Health and Safety Code 431.011, Health and Safety Code 443.001, Health and Safety Code 443.051, Health and Safety Code 443.104, Health and Safety Code 443.151, Health and Safety Code 443.152, Health and Safety Code 443.2025, Health and Safety Code 443.203, Health and Safety Code 443.204, Health and Safety Code 443.205, Health and Safety Code 443.206, Health and Safety Code 443.207 (Health and Safety Code 443, Health and Safety Code 431)