Georgia CommonsHouse · Engrossed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 34: Professional licensing boards; continuing education tracking solution to monitor compliance of licenses with applicable continuing education requirements; establish
Last action March 27, 2026 · Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
A Senate substitute to HB 34 would rewrite Georgia's hemp product law to cap the amount of THC and similar intoxicating compounds allowed in consumable hemp products, and require new warning labels about driving impairment.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Comm Sub version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
HB 34 started as a bill about tracking continuing education for professional license holders, but the Senate Committee on Regulated Industries and Utilities replaced its entire text with a substitute that instead rewrites Georgia's Hemp Farming Act (O.C.G.A. Chapter 23 of Title 2). The substitute defines 'intoxicating cannabinoids' broadly to include THC variants and hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), and sets a new statewide cap: consumable hemp products cannot exceed a 0.3 percent total concentration of these compounds. The bill also sets specific milligram limits depending on the type of product, such as 10 milligrams of intoxicating cannabinoids per serving for most products, 5 milligrams per 12 ounces for drinks, and 1 milligram per milliliter for tinctures. It expands the required certificate of analysis testing, adds a new label warning that using the product before driving could violate Georgia's DUI law (O.C.G.A. 40-6-391), and keeps violations as a misdemeanor.
What the bill does
- Creates a new legal definition of 'intoxicating cannabinoids' covering THC variants and hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) and their derivatives.
- Bans the sale of consumable hemp products whose total concentration of intoxicating cannabinoids exceeds 0.3 percent.
- Sets milligram caps on intoxicating cannabinoids by product type, including drinks, topical products, and tinctures.
- Requires a new conspicuous label warning that using the product before driving may violate Georgia's DUI law.
- Expands the certificate of analysis testing requirement to cover intoxicating cannabinoids generally, not just THC.
- Keeps violations of the labeling, testing, and concentration rules as a misdemeanor criminal offense.
Who it affects
Georgia hemp growers, processors, and manufacturers licensed under the Georgia Hemp Farming Act; retail and wholesale sellers of consumable hemp products such as drinks, gummies, tinctures, and topicals; registered testing laboratories; and consumers who purchase these products.
Why it matters
Many hemp-derived products currently sold in Georgia, including drinks and gummies containing THC or HHC, would have to meet new potency caps and testing rules or be pulled from shelves. Sellers face new labeling duties, and buyers would see explicit warnings tying product use to Georgia's DUI law.
Key provisions
- Section 1 revises Code Section 2-23-3 to add a definition of 'intoxicating cannabinoids' covering THC variants and HHC, and defines 'total concentration of intoxicating cannabinoids.'
- Section 2 revises Code Section 2-23-9.1 to ban sale of any consumable hemp product exceeding a 0.3 percent total concentration of intoxicating cannabinoids and expands required lab testing to cover these compounds.
- Section 2 adds a required label stating that using the product before driving may violate Georgia's DUI law (O.C.G.A. 40-6-391(a)(6)).
- Section 2 keeps violations of the labeling, testing, or concentration limits a misdemeanor.
- Section 3 revises Code Section 2-23-9.2 to set milligram limits: 10 mg per serving and 150 mg per container generally, 5 mg per 12 fluid ounces for drinks, 1,000 mg per container for topicals, and 1 mg per milliliter for tinctures.
- Section 4 repeals conflicting laws.
From the bill
“No consumable hemp product shall be sold or otherwise distributed in this state if such product has a total concentration of intoxicating cannabinoids that exceeds 0.3 percent, determined on a dry weight basis where applicable.”
“CONSUMPTION OF THIS PRODUCT MAY IMPAIR THE ABILITY TO OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE. CONSUMPTION OF THIS PRODUCT BEFORE OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF O.C.G.A. 40-6-391(a)(6), DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE.”
Discussed in meetings (3)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee, March 24, 2026
From 1:57:35 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair presented a replacement for HB 34 restoring hemp restrictions previously pursued through SB 254. The chair described limits of 10 milligrams of THC per gummy and 5 milligrams per 12-ounce beverage, counting intoxicating THC variants together. The proposal would also allow package-store sales, require driving-impairment warnings and prohibit sales exceeding federal THC limits. The chair said a federal restriction scheduled for November 1 could largely supersede the state proposal. A Georgia Association of Convenience Stores witness argued that the combined-THC definition could effectively ban products and push sales into unregulated markets. The witness urged keeping the existing Agriculture Department framework and cited at least 1,100 compliance inspections in the preceding year. The chair disputed that the proposal sought a ban, saying it restricted concentrations. The witness said the association did not oppose package-store sales. Members raised impaired-driving and testing concerns. One member suggested lowering beverage limits to 2.5 milligrams; another questioned whether weaker drinks would encourage greater consumption. No amendment was adopted. After announcing a 5-4 vote against passage, the chair voted to create a tie and said the proposal would remain alive for the next meeting.
Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee, March 27, 2026
From 0:20:06 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair said the substitute would reduce the hemp-beverage limit from 10 to 5 milligrams per 12-ounce serving, require warnings about impairment and driving, and revise the definition of intoxicating cannabinoids to address alternative THC compounds. The chair said limits for gummies and other products would remain unchanged. Asked about the Agriculture Department’s opposition, the chair said the department preferred its current 10-milligram limit. One member opposed expanding sales to liquor stores and offered an amendment removing that provision, which passed 5 to 4. Another member sought to postpone action until federal changes expected in November, citing packaging costs and the department’s opposition. That motion failed. The chair argued that lower limits and warnings would protect drivers during the intervening months. Another member warned of harm to businesses, disputed using California’s restrictions as a safety argument, and said impairment must be established rather than inferred from consumption alone. Members debated THC testing and whether an outright ban would be preferable. The chair declined a late request to offer another amendment because voting had begun. The committee passed the substitute as amended; a complete final vote count was not stated.
Status timeline
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
- Senate Recommitted (Senate)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
Show full history (11 actions)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Dale Washburn (R, HD-144)
- Bill Cowsert (R, SD-46)
Votes
- House voteFebruary 24, 2025
171 yea, 2 nay (1 not voting, 6 excused)
Topics
- hemp regulation
- THC limits
- consumer product labeling
- cannabis law
- food and beverage safety