Committee approves bill letting local governments help enforce hemp/CBD rules and collect civil penalties

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved Senate Bill 770, which would permit local governments to establish local cannabidiol (CBD)/hemp boards to assist state enforcement of hemp and cannabinoid rules and to collect civil penalties for local enforcement uses. The bill was described and advanced to the finance committee.

Sponsor Senator Briggs said the bill is permissive, allowing local governments to provide a “helping hand” to state enforcement rather than replacing state oversight. He said the Department of Agriculture currently enforces hemp rules but that a separate bill would move enforcement to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission; regardless, SB 770 keeps primary enforcement at the state level while permitting local oversight agreements.

Briggs described the scope of retail activity in his home county, saying Knox County had “288 licenses either have been issued or licenses that are pending to be issued,” and called that number illustrative of rapid retail growth. The bill creates a civil penalty of $1,000 per violation; sponsor testimony stated that those civil penalties collected locally would be used for local enforcement mechanisms.

Committee members asked whether the bill regulates THC limits; the sponsor said that question is handled in a different bill and that SB 770 does not change state THC limits. Members also asked how existing licensed stores would be treated; the sponsor said grandfathering is handled in related proposals.

The committee adopted a technical amendment, discussed the bill at length and approved it by roll call. The chair announced the bill goes to finance.

Outcome: SB 770 passed the Judiciary Committee and was referred to the Senate Finance Committee for further consideration.

Ending: Sponsor Briggs asked for a positive vote and framed the bill as giving local governments tools to assist in enforcement and fund local oversight.