Tennessee Senate Bill SB0770

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/4/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39 and Title 43, Chapter 27, relative to hemp.

Summary

SB0770 amends Tennessee’s hemp laws to create a new local permitting and enforcement framework for hemp-derived cannabinoid products (HDCPs) sold at retail. The bill authorizes a city, town, county, or metropolitan government to establish an HDCP board by majority vote of its governing body. If created, that board may require retailers of hemp-derived cannabinoid products to obtain a local permit for each retail location and may regulate HDCP sales within the jurisdiction so long as local rules do not conflict with state law or Department of Agriculture rules. The bill sets the annual local permit fee at $250 per location and requires annual renewal. It also allows the local board to request a notice of good standing from the state department for permitting purposes. Local law enforcement may enforce the chapter and local HDCP ordinances, and may also inspect retailers during normal business hours. Retailers operating without a required permit or violating the law or department rules may face a $1,000 civil penalty per violation, permit revocation for up to one year, and possible ineligibility for renewal for an additional year. Permit fees and penalties are deposited into the local general fund but must be tracked separately and used for enforcement of the part.

Impact

The bill adds a new part to Tennessee Code Annotated Title 43, Chapter 27, expanding the state’s hemp regulatory scheme by giving local governments optional authority to create permitting boards for hemp-derived cannabinoid product retailers. It also clarifies that these local requirements are supplemental to existing chapter requirements and do not limit the Department of Agriculture’s enforcement authority. The measure creates new compliance obligations for retailers, new enforcement powers for local law enforcement, and a local revenue stream dedicated to enforcement.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests broad support at the committee level: the Senate Judiciary Committee recommended passage with amendment and referred the bill onward on a 9-0 vote. No committee transcript is available, so there is no recorded debate to indicate significant opposition or support arguments beyond the favorable vote. Overall, the bill appears to have been received positively in committee, at least in its amended form.

Contention

The main policy issue is the balance between state oversight and local control. Supporters of the bill appear to favor allowing local governments to regulate and permit hemp-derived cannabinoid retailers in response to local concerns, while the structure preserves state authority by limiting local rules to those that do not conflict with state law or department regulations. Potential points of contention include the added permitting fee, the possibility of varied local rules across jurisdictions, and the enforcement powers granted to local law enforcement and boards. The bill text does not identify specific opponents, but these issues are the most likely sources of disagreement.