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      ⚠️ HIGH Industry Threat Level

      Current Focus: Texas

      Last Updated: Aug 19, 2025 - 11:11 AM CDT

      Texas Legislative Action Center

      Your Strategic Guide to Critical Legislation

      TX Senate Bill 3 (Consumable Hemp)

      Under Debate

      The Bottom Line: Opponents are successfully conflating the responsible, regulated hemp industry with the illicit market. The current narrative focuses on "predatory marketing" to minors, ignoring the economic and wellness benefits our industry provides. Our immediate goal is to shift the conversation from prohibition to sensible regulation.

      Key Developments (as of Aug 19, 2025):

      • The bill is scheduled for a key committee hearing next Tuesday. Public testimony will be limited.
      • Opponent talking points now cite a (disputed) study linking hemp products to a rise in teen hospital visits.
      • An economic impact report estimates a ban would result in the loss of 12,000 jobs and $1.6B in state revenue.

      WORKLIFELEAF Strategic Response:

      Focus on "Regulate, Don't Eliminate." We must provide lawmakers with a clear, responsible alternative to a ban. Use the resources below to amplify this message.

      ACCESS ALL ADVOCACY TOOLS

        Employment Snapshot: Texas Specialty Retail

        A powerful counter-narrative to the idea of a "fringe" industry.

        12,550

        Texans Employed Directly

        ▲ 8.2% Year-Over-Year Growth

        Talking Points for Your Community: The Texas specialty retail sector is a significant and growing employer, creating thousands of stable, local jobs. This data highlights the real families and communities that depend on our industry's continued success and fair regulation. A ban doesn't just close stores; it eliminates livelihoods.

        Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) QCEW, Q1 2025 Data for NAICS 459991.


          Licensed & Legitimate: The Scale of Our Industry

          Demonstrating our commitment to a regulated, transparent marketplace.

          7,942

          Active Retail Licenses Statewide

          DFW Metro: 1,850+
          Houston Metro: 1,600+

          Analysis: With nearly 8,000 state-issued licenses, our industry is not an unregulated "wild west." We are an established network of legitimate, tax-paying businesses that have demonstrated a commitment to compliance. This is the foundation upon which sensible, effective regulation—not prohibition—should be built.

          Source: Texas Dept. of State Health Services (DSHS) Consumable Hemp Product Licensee Search, Aug 2025.

            Compliance Alert: The Expired License Risk

            Protecting your business from a common, costly, and avoidable compliance failure.

            The Bottom Line: Operating with an expired DSHS license—even by one day—is a serious violation that can result in significant fines or immediate suspension of your business. It is one of the most common and easily preventable reasons for disciplinary action.

            Key Insights (as of Aug 19, 2025):

            • State records show over 15% of hemp retailer licenses are currently expired or inactive.
            • The most common reason for expiration is missing the renewal window, which opens 60 days prior to the expiry date.
            • Reinstating an expired license is often more complex and costly than a timely renewal.

            WORKLIFELEAF Strategic Response:

            Proactive compliance is your best defense. Use these tools to verify your status and streamline your renewal process.

            ACCESS ALL COMPLIANCE GUIDES

              Retailer Risk Guides: Licensing & Registration

              Navigating the multi-tiered requirements for state, local, and specialty licenses.

              The Bottom Line: A single missing or expired license at the state, county, or city level can jeopardize your entire operation. Understanding the specific requirements for each product type (CBD, Vape, Tobacco) is critical for maintaining good standing.

              Key Insights (as of Aug 19, 2025):

              • Common Pitfall: Many retailers secure a state hemp license but overlook municipal permits required for specialty retail.
              • Local zoning laws can impose additional restrictions not covered by state licenses.
              • Properly displaying all required licenses is a frequent focus of state and local compliance audits.

              WORKLIFELEAF Strategic Response:

              Build your compliance foundation. Use these tools to audit your current licenses and prepare for renewals.

              ACCESS LICENSING GUIDES

                Retailer Risk Guides: Product & Inventory

                Ensuring consumer safety and regulatory traceability from supplier to sale.

                The Bottom Line: You are responsible for every product on your shelves. Strong supply chain controls and thorough documentation (like Certificates of Analysis) are essential for protecting your customers and your business from liability.

                Key Insights (as of Aug 19, 2025):

                • Regulators are increasing enforcement on products with inaccurate THC content or unlisted ingredients.
                • Maintaining clear "seed-to-sale" tracking, where possible, is the gold standard for regulatory traceability.
                • Product recalls are a significant financial and reputational risk; strong intake protocols are your first line of defense.

                WORKLIFELEAF Strategic Response:

                Curate your inventory with confidence. Use these tools to vet suppliers and manage your products responsibly.

                ACCESS PRODUCT & INVENTORY GUIDES

                  Retailer Risk Guides: Taxation & Financial

                  Promoting financial transparency and ensuring accurate state revenue accountability.

                  The Bottom Line: Meticulous financial records are non-negotiable. State comptrollers require detailed accountability for sales tax, and demonstrating financial transparency is key to being seen as a legitimate, contributing business.

                  Key Insights (as of Aug 19, 2025):

                  • Failure to properly remit sales tax is one of the fastest ways to trigger a comprehensive state audit.
                  • Understanding which products are subject to different tax rates is a common point of confusion and error.
                  • Clean, well-organized books are essential for securing loans, partners, and potential buyers for your business.

                  WORKLIFELEAF Strategic Response:

                  Master your finances. Use these resources to ensure your books are audit-proof and your business is financially sound.

                  ACCESS TAX & FINANCIAL GUIDES

                    Retailer Risk Guides: Age Verification & Consumer Protection

                    Building trust and proving your commitment to community safety.

                    The Bottom Line: Strict age controls are your single most powerful defense against the "predatory marketing" narrative. Going beyond the minimum requirements for signage and ID checks demonstrates your role as a responsible retailer.

                    Key Insights (as of Aug 19, 2025):

                    • Regulators are increasingly focused on not just the sale, but the marketing and packaging of products.
                    • Accurate labeling without unapproved health claims is a key area of FDA and state scrutiny.
                    • Employee training on how to spot fake IDs and refuse sales is a critical, yet often overlooked, operational detail.

                    WORKLIFELEAF Strategic Response:

                    Operate beyond reproach. Use these tools to build an ironclad consumer protection program.

                    ACCESS CONSUMER PROTECTION GUIDES

                      Retailer Risk Guides: Facility & Safety

                      Meeting the universal standards for security, sanitation, and public health.

                      The Bottom Line: Your physical store is a direct reflection of your commitment to professionalism and safety. Health and safety standards are not just for ingestible goods; they apply to the entire customer and employee experience.

                      Key Insights (as of Aug 19, 2025):

                      • Local health departments can conduct unannounced inspections based on universal public health codes.
                      • Proper security measures, such as camera placement and cash handling procedures, are vital for staff safety and deterring crime.
                      • Clear, accessible sanitation facilities for both staff and customers are a baseline expectation for any retail establishment.

                      WORKLIFELEAF Strategic Response:

                      Run an audit-ready operation. Use these tools to ensure your facility meets and exceeds all safety standards.

                      ACCESS FACILITY & SAFETY GUIDES

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