HB 72 Tennessee House · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Criminal Offenses - As enacted, establishes mandatory minimum penalties of 48 hours in jail and a $500 fine for a person convicted of knowingly selling or distributing a product containing a hemp-derived cannabinoid to a person who is under 21; prohibits a retailer from knowingly allowing an employee younger than 21 to access, handle, or sell any product containing a hemp-derived cannabinoid on the premises of the retail establishment. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17; Title 43, Chapter 27 and Title 49, Chapter 6.

HB 72 establishes mandatory penalties for selling hemp-derived cannabinoid products to people under 21 in Tennessee. It requires a minimum 48-hour jail sentence and $500 fine for anyone convicted of knowingly selling such products to minors. The bill also prohibits retailers from allowing employees under 21 to access, handle, or sell these products on store premises. These rules directly affect retailers and their underage employees handling hemp-derived cannabinoid products, effective July 1, 2025.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Signed Mar 28, 2025
Floor votes · Senate Mar 10, 2025 · House Feb 24, 2025

How they voted

323
Passed
Total votes 35
Mar 10, 2025
D Democratic4
1 Yea 3 Nay
75% Nay
R Republican31
31 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
28
Key actions
13
Committee
8
Mar 28, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed by H. Speaker
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed by Senate Speaker
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
H. concurred in S. am. no. 1 Ayes 86, Nays 8 PNV 0 HB0072
lower
Mar 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0049)
lower
Mar 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 27, Nays 3
upper
Feb 27, 2025
Introduced
Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
lower
Feb 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed H., Ayes 87, Nays 8, PNV 0
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 2/20/2025
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 2/19/2025
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 2/12/2025
lower
Jan 28, 2025
Committee
Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee
lower
Jan 16, 2025
Committee
Ref. to Judiciary Committee
lower
Jan 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
P2C held on desk, pending appointment of Standing Committees
lower
Jan 14, 2025
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Dan Howell
Dan Howell
RRepublican
TN
22