The Texas hemp industry faces a high-stakes battle in the upcoming special session beginning July 21, with Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick pushing for stricter regulation and the Governor Greg Abbott’s veto of Senate Bill 3 causing controversy.
The Texas comptroller’s office, led by Kelly Hancock, will play a crucial role in the hemp regulation discussion by providing revenue estimates and tracking financial flows.
The outcome of the special session will have significant economic implications for the Texas hemp industry, potentially affecting its growth, regulation, and market position.
If Senate Bill 3 passes during the special session, it would have significant impacts on Texas’s hemp industry:
Immediate Industry Impact:
- The legislation would likely spell “the end for the state’s short-lived hemp industry”
- It would ban Texas sales of virtually all hemp products containing THC, affecting the state’s “multibillion-dollar hemp industry”
- All products containing any amount of THC, including popular delta-8 and delta-9 products, would be prohibited
Regulatory Changes:
- The legislation proposes “restricting the types of cannabinoids allowed, tightening licensing and testing requirements, and enforcing criminal penalties for violations”
- It would require “occupational” licensing for hemp-related businesses
Timeline: If passed and signed, the bill would take effect in September 2025
The hemp industry has been lobbying heavily against the bill, with the Texas Hemp Business Council holding press conferences calling for the governor to veto it. The outcome of the special session will determine whether Texas maintains its current hemp market or effectively eliminates the consumable THC hemp industry that has grown significantly since hemp was inadvertently legalized six years ago.
The THC fight also shows how the Abbott-Patrick dynamic has shifted to the governor’s favor.
The Conflict: Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick made banning THC products his top legislative priority, calling it among his top five bills over 17 years in the Legislature, but Governor Abbott vetoed the ban. This created a rare public rift between the two Republican leaders.
Patrick’s Response: Patrick “sharply rebuked” Abbott for the veto and refused to support the governor’s alternative approach of placing firmer regulations on the hemp industry instead of an outright ban. The disagreement has raised questions about a possible split within the Republican-run state.
Abbott’s Position: Rather than supporting Patrick’s complete ban, Abbott favored a regulatory approach to the hemp industry. Abbott has called a special session on July 21st to address the THC issue, suggesting he wants lawmakers to find a compromise solution.
Political Significance: The dispute represents a shift in the traditional power dynamic between the two offices, with Abbott asserting his executive authority against Patrick’s legislative priorities. This public disagreement between the state’s two most powerful Republican officials is unusual in Texas politics, where the governor and lieutenant governor typically work in coordination.
Three people died in a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 35 in Round Rock early Sunday morning, with police arresting one person on charges of driving while intoxicated in connection with the fatal incident.
“Three people are confirmed deceased at this time. One individual has been arrested for Driving While Intoxicated in connection to the incident,” — Round Rock Police Department
Austin first responders were called overnight for a fire downtown. (Exact location not specific.)
At least four people were injured in a shooting early Sunday morning at a strip mall parking off of Braker Lane.
One person was taken into custody after barricading themselves inside their home in Kyle late Saturday night. (CBS Austin)
Stephon Morson, a murder suspect in the death of 20-year-old Keshawn Cage, is scheduled for another bond hearing today. He is currently out of custody on a $100 bond and is under house arrest, has GPS monitoring, and is not allowed to contact the victim’s family.
Morson was arrested in November, and since then, his bond has been adjusted multiple times. The initial bond was set at $800,000 but was reduced to $100 in February after prosecutors missed a 90-day deadline to secure an indictment. It was later raised to $100,000, then reduced again after a separate charge was filed and another bond motion was filed.
The victim’s family, including Keshawn Cage’s great-aunt Patricia Muse, has expressed frustration with the bond reductions, calling the due process “painful.” (KXAN-TV / CBS Austin)
Emergency crews in Taylor responded to a structure fire at the former Dickey Givens Community Center Sunday morning.
The fire was brought under control at approximately 10 a.m.
The fire destroyed the building located at 903 E Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
The building was the former location of the community center. A new facility is located inside Fannie Robinson Park at 1015 E. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. in Tyalor.
Two AFD fire trucks were involved in a minor accident on MoPac Expressway Sunday.
Oracle, the computer tech giant with a campus in East Austin, recently announced a new push to expand its business with Texas police departments and schools. Its Oracle Public Safety Suite is now more accessible to first responders and educational institutions through a pre-negotiated contract with the Texas Department of Information Resources. This streamlined process makes it easier for eligible entities—including law enforcement, emergency agencies, and public safety departments—to purchase the technology. (Austin Business Journal)
Austin has seen recent decreases in per-capita water use per day. The decreases are being credited partly due to Austin Water‘s efforts and increasing rates and investments. (Austin Monitor)
The Texas Supreme Court ruled on Friday that Texas residents and businesses who sued utility companies for cutting power during the 2021 winter storm failed to show the companies were intentionally negligent. The court found that the plaintiffs did not provide enough proof that the companies deliberately caused the widespread blackouts. (KUT 90.5)
The Saharan dust is reaching the Texas area today.
This represents the biggest cloud to push through the Lone Star State so far this year.
The dust plume is moving through various parts of Texas today, with the leading edge forecast to reach the deep South region by around late morning/midday, possibly reaching South Central Texas by the mid to late evening hours.
According to meteorological forecasts, the best chance of noticing this plume of dust will be Tuesday, July 1 and Wednesday, July 2, suggesting today marks the beginning of a multi-day dust event.
Air Quality Concerns: The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is monitoring conditions, as the juxtaposition with rich Gulf moisture is expected to result in a noticeable increase in atmospheric particulates. The dust can reduce air quality and create health concerns for individuals with respiratory conditions.
What to Expect: Residents across Texas can expect hazy skies, reduced visibility, and potentially spectacular sunrises and sunsets as the dust particles scatter light. The phenomenon is typical for this time of year, as dust from the Saharan Desert makes its annual journey across the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf Coast and inland areas of Texas.
The dust event is part of the normal seasonal pattern, though this current plume appears to be particularly substantial compared to earlier dust events in Texas in 2025. (KVUE-TV / AOL)
WEATHER
Tropical Storm Barry made landfall in Tampico, Mexico as a minimal tropical storm with 45mph winds, bringing heavy rain and flash flooding to interior Mexico.
Barry has dissipated over eastern Mexico, the National Hurricane Center announced.
A new law in Texas could have a significant influence over how foods are presented — or even manufactured — in the rest of the country. (KXAN-TV)
A 41-year-old San Antonio woman has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for producing child pornography, according to court documents. Ashley Nicole Smith sexually assaulted a minor from November 2019 to March 2021, beginning when the child was just days old. (My Texas Daily)
Beginning this week in Bexar County, access to Interstate Drive from the Loop 410 southbound frontage road will close to allow for roadway reconstruction, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. The closure is expected to remain in place until March 20, 2026.
At least five people are dead and others are hurt after a crash on I-20 near Terrell on Saturday afternoon after the driver of an 18-wheeler fell asleep behind the wheel, according to Texas DPS. (FOX4 Dallas – Fort Worth)
The Padre Island National Seashore says that tar balls have been reported at all beaches in the park.
During the summer, it is common for tar balls to appear on Texas shores. (FOX7 Austin)
The North Texas Wildlife Center says they’re at risk of being shut down by the City of Plano. (NBC DFW)
Texas will soon be home to what’s being called the largest data energy complex in the world.
Fermi Energia and the Texas Tech University System are partnering to develop the HyperGrid campus, a massive 5,769-acre project in Amarillo that will integrate nuclear, solar, natural gas, and battery energy storage. The campus is designed to generate up to 11 gigawatts of power—enough to supply 8 to 10 million homes—and will also include 18 million square feet of space dedicated to artificial intelligence. (Chron)
The era of massive state budget surpluses in Texas could be coming to an end. (Click2Houston)
Who will Texas Democrats pick to be their nominee to run for U.S. Senate? (Texas Public Radio)
There’s a growing sense that the 2026 midterm election is going to be an opportunity for Democrats and could be their best hope to break a 30-year statewide losing streak.
State Sen. Joan Huffman is running for attorney general, joining the Republican primary to replace Ken Paxton, who is vacating the office to run for the U.S. Senate. One of Texas’s longest-serving senators, Huffman is now one of three Republicans in the race, including a fellow senator. (Texas Standard)
For years, as Williamson County has grown, Justices of the Peace have been asking for help with the increasing number of death cases. This week on Inside the Investigation, Arezow Doost explains why a new solution to help the judges is already facing challenges.
SPORTS
NBA: Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith, the No. 3 pick in the 2022 NBA draft, reportedly agreed to a five-year, $122 million contract extension with the Rockets on Sunday evening. (Chron)
MLB: The Houston Rockets gave the Chicago Cubs some payback Sunday while the Texas Rangers continued to struggle to gain any real momentum heading into July.
Jose Altuve hit a two-run homer and Framber Valdez tossed six shutout innings, and the Houston Astros beat the Chicago Cubs 2-0 on Sunday. (Yahoo! Sports)
In Arlington, Mitch Garver hit a two-run homer in the 12th and drove in four runs, and the Seattle Mariners beat the Texas Rangers 6-4 on Sunday to win a series in which all three games went to extra innings. (Yahoo! Sports)
ON THE SCHEDULE
The Astros have the day off.
Fort Stockton, established in January 1859, served as a crucial lifeline for civilians, offering opportunities to sell goods to the Army for cash money.
