Bill > SB1778

This bill amends and adds several provisions related to the production and regulation of hemp and consumable hemp products in Texas. Key provisions include: - Requiring the Texas Department of Agriculture to submit any necessary amendments to the state's hemp plan within 90 days of changes to state or federal law or regulations. - Allowing institutions of higher education to conduct hemp research without certain requirements like paying fees or obtaining permits, though they must still comply with some testing and transfer requirements. - Requiring the Department of Agriculture to propose new rules within 90 days of changes to state hemp laws or federal hemp laws and regulations. - Specifying requirements for testing and reporting of hemp samples, including the measurement of uncertainty in test results. - Extending the timeframe for license holders to harvest hemp plants after preharvest sampling. - Allowing license holders whose licenses are suspended or revoked to still harvest and potentially sell hemp plants if the THC level is below the legal limit. - Authorizing the importation and cultivation of certain hemp seed and plant varieties. - Creating penalties for cultivating hemp without a license, including administrative fines and potential criminal charges. - Establishing an account to hold fees and other funds related to consumable hemp products, which can only be used by the Department of State Health Services to administer and enforce hemp product regulations. - Imposing limits on the THC content of consumable hemp products. - Making various changes to the regulation of retailers and distributors of consumable hemp products.