AHAA Policy Report: April 10, 2026
This report covers key developments from the past several weeks of the 2026 legislative session. As sessions wind down across many states, the overall bill count has dropped significantly, from 139 bills tracked in early March to 65 in this cycle. That does not mean the pressure has eased. Missouri's most dangerous hemp bill remains positioned for a Senate floor vote. A proposed 20% hemp tax in Maine passed the Senate. And new hemp beverage frameworks are advancing in Rhode Island and Hawaii. Here is where things stand.
Hemp Regulatory Developments
Missouri HB 2641: What This Bill Does and Why It Matters
Status: In Senate, 2026 Regular Session
HB 2641 is now on Governor Mike Kehoe's desk. If he signs it, every hemp-derived cannabinoid product sold in Missouri would have to be sold inside a licensed marijuana dispensary. Independent hemp retailers, smoke shops, convenience stores, health and wellness shops, and any other business currently selling hemp products legally would lose the right to do so. There is no licensing pathway for existing hemp retailers under this bill. It does not regulate the industry. It eliminates it.
Take Action: Sign the Petition Now
It has companion bill, SB 904, which remains on the Senate floor calendar and can be called for a vote at any time. Both bills represent the same outcome through different vehicles: the end of independent hemp retail in Missouri.
Missouri consumers and business owners have a direct role to play in stopping this. Senators need to hear from constituents before a floor vote happens, not after. Personal accounts from business owners, employees, and consumers carry more weight than any lobbyist or organizational statement. Now is the time to use them.
Read: HB 2641 Would End Missouri Hemp
Missouri SB 904: Still on the Floor Calendar
Status: Informal Calendar, Senate Bills for Perfection, April 13, 2026
MO SB 904 remains on the Informal Calendar for floor consideration, meaning it can be called for a vote at any point. The bill would require all hemp-derived cannabinoid retail sales to occur inside licensed marijuana facilities, eliminating independent hemp retail in the state. It has been in this position for several weeks. The fact that it has not yet come to a vote does not mean the threat has passed. Missouri hemp operators should remain engaged with their state senators. Direct outreach from business owners is the most effective tool available at this stage.
See Smart Summary of MO SB 904
Maine HP 1301: 20% Hemp Tax Passes Senate, Stalls in House
Status: Passed Senate; Placed on Special Appropriations Table Pending House Concurrence, April 8, 2026
Maine's HP 1301 passed the Senate and is now pending House action. The bill would impose a 20% sales tax on hemp products containing THC, alongside a new 10% wholesale excise tax on adult use cannabis. The Senate passage forecasts are strong at 95%, but House passage is projected at only 37%, suggesting real resistance in the lower chamber. Hemp businesses in Maine should be in contact with their House representatives now. A 20% tax on hemp products represents a significant cost burden on retailers and consumers alike, and the industry's perspective on that impact needs to be on the record before any House vote.
Oklahoma HB 4248: Hemp Beverage Age Restriction Passes Senate Committee
Status: Reported Do Pass as Amended, Business and Insurance Committee, April 9, 2026
Oklahoma HB 4248, which prohibits the sale of hemp-containing beverages to anyone under 21, cleared its Senate committee with a Do Pass recommendation. The bill takes effect November 1, 2026. It carries an 87% forecast for reaching a Senate floor vote and an 80% forecast for passage. Oklahoma hemp beverage retailers should verify their age verification practices are in compliance ahead of the effective date. This is a narrow, workable age restriction measure, not a ban.
Rhode Island HB 8414: THC Beverage Licensing Framework Introduced
Status: Introduced, Referred to House Corporations, April 8, 2026
Rhode Island introduced HB 8414, the Hemp THC Beverage Act, which would authorize licensed liquor retailers, cannabis retailers, and hemp consumable retailers with an infused-beverage endorsement to sell hemp-derived THC beverages at retail. Products would be capped at 5 mg of hemp-derived THC per container or serving. The bill sets licensing, labeling, testing, age verification, and marketing standards, with an effective date of August 1, 2026. This is a regulatory access bill, not a restriction. Rhode Island businesses interested in the THC beverage market should follow this closely as it moves through the House Corporations Committee.
Hawaii SB 2102: Hemp in Animal Feed Advances
Status: Scheduled for House Committee Hearing, April 9, 2026
Hawaii SB 2102 would authorize hemp and hemp-derived ingredients in commercial animal feeds for pets, specialty pets, and horses beginning July 1, 2026. Ingredients must be registered and legally sourced, with THC limits and good manufacturing practice compliance required. Livestock use would require federal approval. The bill carries a 95% passage forecast in both chambers. This is a market expansion bill with direct relevance to hemp ingredient suppliers, pet product manufacturers, and distributors operating in or looking to enter the Hawaii market.
What This Means for the Industry
Late session does not mean low stakes. Missouri's SB 904 has been floor-ready for weeks and can move at any time. Maine's hemp tax cleared one chamber and is now in the hands of House members who have shown resistance but have not killed it. Both situations require active engagement from industry members, not passive monitoring.
The Rhode Island and Hawaii developments point in a better direction: states building licensing frameworks and expanding market access for hemp products through structured, compliant channels. These are the models the industry should be amplifying and pointing to in states where prohibition or taxation overreach is still being debated.
Members operating in multiple product categories should review the complete tracking report for comprehensive state-specific updates.
See the April 10th Full Weekly Policy Report Document
Catch up on past reports:
See the April 3rd Document
See the March 27th Document
See the March 20th Document
Take Action
Missouri: HB 2641 and SB 904 are both live. Contact your senator now and tell them what losing independent hemp retail would mean for your business, your employees, and your customers.
Maine: HP 1301 is in the House. A 20% tax on hemp products is not a reasonable compliance cost, it is a market barrier. Your House representative needs to hear that from a business owner, not a lobbyist.
Rhode Island and Hawaii: If you operate in these states, engage with the committee process now. Both bills are in early stages where industry input has real influence on the final framework.
Prepared by the American Healthy Alternatives Association
Tracking hemp policy nationwide to keep our industry informed.
