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Federal hemp law • Verified tracker • Reviewed September 23, 2026

Section 781 Federal Hemp Deadline Tracker

Public Law 119-103 creates a two-date Section 781 timeline: November 12 and December 11, 2026.
September 23 major update: President Trump signed H.R. 6500 on September 2, 2026, as Public Law 119-103. Section 2019 now limits which Section 781 amendments apply before December 11. The specified exclusions for intermediate and final products containing cannabinoids that are not capable of being naturally produced by Cannabis sativa L. still begin November 12; the broader Section 781 changes are held back until December 11 unless Congress acts again.

Track the enacted November 12 and December 11 federal timeline, the temporary Section 2019 extension, beverage-specific proposals, broader hemp bills, and what these developments mean for hemp beverage businesses.

This page separates what is already law from what Congress is considering. Proposed bills and reported developments are clearly labeled so readers can see what has actually changed and what has not.

Reviewed and verified:  •  Latest federal tracker development: (additional H.R. 10079 cosponsorship). Maintained by Next Level Leaf. This page is educational and is not legal advice.

Quick answer

The temporary Section 781 extension is now law. President Trump signed H.R. 6500 on September 2 as Public Law 119-103. Until December 11, Section 781 applies only to the specified intermediate and final products containing cannabinoids that are not capable of being naturally produced by Cannabis sativa L. The broader Section 781 changes are held back until December 11 unless Congress changes the law again.

September 2H.R. 6500 became Public Law 119-103.
November 12Specified non-naturally-producible cannabinoid exclusions begin applying.
December 11Section 2019's temporary limitation ends unless Congress acts again.
Long-term frameworkH.R. 10079, H.R. 9830, H.R. 7024 and other proposals remain pending.
Section 781 federal hemp deadline tracker reviewed September 23, 2026, showing the enacted November 12 and December 11 federal dates under Public Law 119-103
Section 781 Federal Hemp Deadline Tracker, reviewed September 23, 2026. Public Law 119-103 creates a two-date federal timeline: specified provisions begin November 12 and the temporary limitation ends December 11.
Current Federal Status • Reviewed September 23, 2026

The temporary Section 781 extension is now law. November 12 and December 11 both matter.

Enacted September 2: President Trump signed H.R. 6500, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027, as Public Law 119-103.

November 12: Section 2019 says that until December 11, the Section 781 amendments apply only to products described in clauses (1)(C)(ii)(I) and (1)(C)(iv)(I) of the amended hemp definition. Those clauses cover intermediate and final hemp-derived cannabinoid products containing cannabinoids that are not capable of being naturally produced by Cannabis sativa L.

December 11: The temporary Section 2019 limitation ends. Unless Congress changes the law again, the broader Section 781 amendments would then apply, including the separate provisions for plant-capable cannabinoids synthesized or manufactured outside the plant and the finished-product 0.4 milligram combined-per-container threshold.

Beverage Regulatory Parity Act: H.R. 10079 remains in committee. Public legislative records indicate Rep. Derrick Van Orden joined as a cosponsor on September 21, bringing the bill to four cosponsors in addition to sponsor Beth Van Duyne. No committee vote has occurred.

Lawful Hemp Protection Act: H.R. 9830 remains in committee with seven cosponsors in addition to sponsor Andy Barr. No committee vote or later status-changing action was identified in this September 23 review.

Hemp Planting Predictability Act: H.R. 7024 remains pending. Current public legislative data shows 40 cosponsors, and the bill was referred to the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture on May 20. It has not passed the House.

Farm Bill: The Senate Agriculture Committee advanced the Agricultural Act of 2026 on September 16. NLL's search of the posted 983-page committee text found no occurrence of the word “hemp,” so that posted version does not itself provide a Section 781 solution. Later amendments or separate legislation could still change that.

FDA status: NLL did not locate the required Section 781 cannabinoid-list or container publication in FDA or Federal Register materials reviewed through September 23. CRS had already reported that the publication remained outstanding as of August 2026.

Industry source watch: The Hemp Beverage Alliance is now part of NLL's monitored industry-source set. Its current public materials describe December 11 as the operating federal deadline for the beverage category while separately noting November 12 treatment for synthetic cannabinoids. HBA is an industry advocacy source, not controlling legal authority.

What Congress Is Working On Next • Temporary Window Ends December 11

The next policy question is whether Congress enacts a longer-term hemp framework before December 11.

Public Law 119-103 resolved the immediate question of whether Congress would create additional time. The remaining debate is over what, if anything, replaces or further delays the broader Section 781 framework when the temporary limitation ends.

1

H.R. 10079: beverage-specific regulation

The Beverage Regulatory Parity Act would create a dedicated federal pathway for qualifying hemp-derived beverages, including a 5 mg intoxicating-THC-per-serving limit, TTB permitting, three-tier distribution, testing, labeling, age-21 rules, and an excise tax. It remains in committee.

2

H.R. 9830: broader replacement framework

The Lawful Hemp Protection Act would repeal Section 781 and replace it with a broader federal regulatory structure for hemp-derived cannabinoid products. It remains in committee with no committee vote.

3

H.R. 7024: longer implementation delay

The Hemp Planting Predictability Act would target a three-year Section 781 implementation period. It has 40 cosponsors and a House Agriculture subcommittee referral but has not passed the House.

Farm Bill watch: the Senate Agriculture Committee advanced the Agricultural Act of 2026 on September 16, but NLL's search of the posted committee text found no hemp-specific provision. That makes the currently posted Farm Bill text a separate agriculture vehicle, not yet a Section 781 solution.

Industry context: the Hemp Beverage Alliance and other trade groups are actively advocating for a permanent federal regulatory framework during this temporary window. Their positions help track political and commercial pressure, but they do not establish the law.
Historical Congressional Fight • Extension Enacted September 2

The one-month extension survived efforts to remove it and is now law.

Senator Ted Budd opposed the temporary hemp delay and sought to remove Section 2019 from the Senate package. The Senate rejected that effort, the House later accepted the Senate amendments, and President Trump signed the measure on September 2.

1

Budd opposed the delay

Budd argued against postponing the Section 781 restrictions and sought to remove the temporary extension from the funding package.

2

The Senate kept Section 2019

The Senate voted 61–32 to table Budd Amendment 6747, which would have struck Section 2019.

3

Senate passage was 90–6

The continuing resolution then passed the Senate with the one-month partial hemp extension intact.

4

The House concurred 370–48

On September 1, the House accepted the Senate amendments without removing Section 2019.

5

The President signed September 2

H.R. 6500 became Public Law 119-103, making Section 2019's temporary limitation part of current federal law.

6

The long-term question remains open

The enacted extension is temporary. Congress would need another law to create a longer delay, repeal Section 781, or establish a replacement regulatory framework.

What this means now: the fight over whether the one-month extension would become law is over. The next federal fight concerns the rules that will apply after the temporary Section 2019 window ends.

The House's 370–48 vote was on the full Senate-amended H.R. 6500 package, not a stand-alone vote on hemp policy. It shows that the hemp provision remained in the enacted package; it should not be treated as a stand-alone 370-member endorsement of any particular hemp regulatory model.
Enacted Law • Public Law 119-103

What Public Law 119-103 does to the Section 781 timeline

President Trump signed H.R. 6500 on September 2, 2026. Section 2019 does not simply replace November 12 with a new effective date. Instead, it temporarily limits which Section 781 amendments apply before December 11.

1

November 12 remains a real federal date

Beginning November 12, Section 781 applies to the specified intermediate and final products containing cannabinoids that are not capable of being naturally produced by Cannabis sativa L.

2

Most other Section 781 changes wait until December 11

Section 2019 says that until December 11, the Section 781 amendments apply only to the two specified non-naturally-producible-cannabinoid clauses.

3

The broader 0.4 mg container clause is held back

The finished-product 0.4 milligram combined-per-container clause is not one of the two provisions Section 2019 makes applicable before December 11.

4

The out-of-plant synthesis clauses are also held back

The separate clauses for cannabinoids capable of natural production but synthesized or manufactured outside the plant are not among the two provisions made applicable before December 11.

5

State and FDA requirements remain separate

Public Law 119-103 does not establish FDA authorization, override state restrictions, approve a formulation, or create a complete national beverage regulatory pathway.

6

The temporary limitation ends December 11

Unless Congress enacts another change, the broader Section 781 amendments would begin applying when the temporary Section 2019 limitation ends.

Practical beverage implication: for a conventional hemp-derived delta-9 beverage, the finished-product 0.4 milligram-per-container clause is not among the provisions that Section 2019 makes applicable before December 11. That does not by itself establish FDA compliance, state-law compliance, or the legality of a specific formulation.

Why the wording matters

Section 2019 states that until December 11 the Section 781 amendments “shall only apply” to two specified clauses. That structure is narrower and more precise than saying every part of Section 781 was simply moved from November 12 to December 11.

Enactment record: the Senate passed H.R. 6500 on August 8, the House concurred in the Senate amendments 370–48 on September 1, and the President signed the measure September 2 as Public Law 119-103.

Legal-status note: Public Law 119-103 is current federal law. The December 11 date is a temporary statutory limitation on the application of most Section 781 amendments, not a permanent replacement framework for hemp-derived cannabinoid products.
New Beverage-Specific Federal Legislation • Introduced August 10, 2026

What the Beverage Regulatory Parity Act would mean for hemp beverages

H.R. 10079, the Beverage Regulatory Parity Act, was introduced August 10, 2026, by Rep. Beth Van Duyne with original cosponsor Rep. Greg Landsman and referred to the House Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means Committees. Reps. Susie Lee and Josh Gottheimer joined August 20, and current public legislative records indicate Rep. Derrick Van Orden joined September 21. The bill remains proposed legislation and has not received a committee vote.

1

Section 781 beverage carveout

The draft expressly provides that Section 781's per-container intoxicating-cannabinoid limit would not apply to a hemp-derived beverage that complies with the bill's serving requirements.

2

Protected intermediate materials

The draft provides a protected manufacturing pathway for qualifying intermediate hemp-derived cannabinoid materials used to manufacture compliant beverages, subject to specified conditions.

3

5 mg intoxicating THC per serving

The draft defines a qualifying hemp-derived beverage as containing no more than 5 mg of total intoxicating tetrahydrocannabinol content per serving.

4

Separate 5 mg non-THC cannabinoid clause

H.R. 10079 as introduced separately states that the beverage may not contain more than 5 mg of non-tetrahydrocannabinol naturally occurring cannabinoids. In the bill text, the words "per serving" appear with the 5 mg intoxicating-THC limit but are not attached to this separate non-THC cannabinoid clause—a drafting distinction particularly relevant to CBD and CBG formulations.

5

Three-tier distribution & TTB permitting

The proposal includes TTB-related manufacturer and wholesaler permits, a three-tier manufacturer → wholesaler → retailer distribution structure, and federal manufacturing and testing requirements.

6

Age 21 & federal labeling controls

The draft creates nationwide age-21 requirements, federal labeling and advertising standards, and product safety controls.

7

Synthetic cannabinoids & formulation provisions

The draft restricts synthetically derived cannabinoids and includes an adulteration provision addressing added substances (such as alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, nicotine, or melatonin) when, as determined by the Secretary, combined with cannabinoids could interact with or alter/enhance cannabinoid effects in a harmful manner.

8

Proposed $0.08/mg federal excise tax

The proposal imposes a federal excise tax of $0.08 per milligram of intoxicating THC on compliant hemp-derived beverages.

Proposed tax calculation: 5 mg × $0.08 = $0.40 proposed federal excise tax per 5 mg beverage. Make no mistake: this tax is proposed legislation, not current federal law.

Industry position: The Hemp Beverage Alliance publicly supports H.R. 10079 and an alcohol-style federal regulatory structure for hemp beverages. HBA is an industry advocacy source; its support is relevant to the political environment but does not change the bill's legal status.

Legal-status note: H.R. 10079, the Beverage Regulatory Parity Act, is proposed legislation and has no legal effect unless enacted into law. State laws and local regulations would still require separate compliance review.
July 29 Development • Circulating Draft

What the circulated Comer hemp draft would do

Marijuana Moment reported on July 29 that Rep. James Comer was circulating a seven-page hemp proposal and published the document through DocumentCloud. NLL's September 23 review did not locate a formal bill number, Congress.gov/GovInfo bill record, committee filing, or enacted version matching that circulated draft. The provisions below describe the published draft, not current law.

1

Delay tied to overdue FDA work

The draft would prevent Section 781 from taking effect until one year after FDA publishes the cannabinoid lists and guidance on the meaning of “container” required by Public Law 119-37. FDA was directed to complete that work within 90 days of enactment.

2

National age-21 rule

Consumable hemp cannabinoid products could not be sold to people under 21.

3

Domestic cultivation and processing

Covered products would have to be derived exclusively from hemp cultivated and processed in the United States.

4

Plant-capable cannabinoids only

Consumable products could contain only cannabinoids capable of being naturally produced by the cannabis plant, narrowing the pathway for synthetic or artificially modified compounds.

5

Manufacturing and testing rules

HHS would be directed to establish uniform manufacturing and testing standards, including independent laboratory testing and good manufacturing practices.

6

Packaging, labels, and QR results

The draft would address child-resistant packaging, youth-oriented or imitation branding, and QR codes linking consumers to laboratory results.

Why the delay mechanism matters: because FDA has not yet completed the required lists and container guidance, tying implementation to that work could move the effective date substantially beyond November 12, 2026 if the proposal were introduced and enacted. The draft does not itself establish a permanent federal milligram limit for beverages.

How it differs from H.R. 9830

H.R. 9830 is a formally introduced, comprehensive replacement framework with FDA, Treasury, and TTB responsibilities, federal beverage taxes, permits, and a three-tier distribution system. The Comer draft is shorter and functions primarily as a delay-and-baseline-regulation proposal. The two should not be described as the same bill or combined into one legislative status.

Source status: the draft was obtained and published by Marijuana Moment through DocumentCloud. NLL did not locate a formal bill number, Congress.gov/GovInfo bill record, committee filing, or enacted version matching the circulated draft in the September 23, 2026 review.
Introduced Federal Legislation • H.R. 9830

What the bipartisan Lawful Hemp Protection Act would change

Rep. Andy Barr introduced H.R. 9830 on July 22, 2026, with Rep. Angie Craig as an original cosponsor. Reps. Tim Moore and Marc Veasey joined July 30; Reps. Gabe Evans and Josh Gottheimer joined August 20; and Reps. Jim Baird and Betty McCollum joined August 31. Current congressional-data listings therefore show seven cosponsors in addition to sponsor Andy Barr. The bill remains in committee with no committee vote. The points below describe what H.R. 9830 would do if enacted; they are not current requirements.

1

Repeal Section 781 and redefine hemp

The bill would expressly repeal Section 781 and define hemp using no more than 1 percent total tetrahydrocannabinol, including THCA, on a dry-weight basis. It would separately protect unfinished hemp-cannabinoid ingredients moving between permitted supply-chain participants.

2

Create an FDA-regulated product pathway

Covered hemp-derived cannabinoid products would be treated as food under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, with an express category for hemp-derived cannabinoid dietary supplements. HHS would establish cannabinoid limits through notice-and-comment rulemaking within 12 months.

3

Use interim serving limits if rulemaking is late

If federal limits are not established within 12 months, the bill would default to 5 mg total THC per serving for oral products and 50 mg per serving for inhalable and topical products until alternative limits are adopted.

4

Require adult sales and a U.S. supply chain

The proposal would prohibit sale, possession, or consumption by people under 21 and require products entering interstate commerce to come exclusively from hemp cultivated, processed, finished, packaged, and labeled in the United States.

5

Standardize labels, COAs, and final-product testing

Labels would disclose THC per serving and package, warnings, cannabinoid content above a nominal level, and a QR code or web address leading to a COA. Products would be tested in final consumer form by ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratories for cannabinoid content, key components, and potential contaminants.

6

Create a federal beverage permit, tax, and distribution system

The bill would establish Treasury and TTB permits for manufacturers and hemp-beverage wholesalers, a manufacturer-wholesaler-retailer distribution structure, a beverage excise tax of 5 cents per milligram of THC, a 5 percent tax on other cannabinoid products, and a separate 5 percent tax on manufacturer sales revenue.

Direct beverage-cost implication: the proposed federal beverage excise tax alone would equal $0.25 on a 5 mg beverage and $0.50 on a 10 mg beverage. That would be in addition to the bill's manufacturer-sales tax and any applicable state or local obligations. The tax and three-tier provisions are likely to be major commercial negotiation points.

State laws would not disappear

H.R. 9830 would allow states, territories, and Tribes to enact and enforce rules that are more stringent than the federal framework. It would protect passage and delivery of federally compliant products through state borders, but it would not create one exclusive national retail rule or erase state licensing, dose, channel, or product restrictions.

Other notable provisions

The introduced text would allow Medicare Advantage plans, subject to federal criteria, to include hemp-derived cannabinoid products as a special supplemental benefit for chronically ill beneficiaries; create impaired-driving standards based on field-sobriety evaluation rather than requiring a per se blood threshold; restrict synthetic and artificially modified cannabinoids; and preserve business-to-business movement of unfinished cannabinoid ingredients among permitted operators.

Current legislative status

H.R. 9830 remains referred to four House committees. The August 31 additions increased bipartisan cosponsor support to seven cosponsors in addition to sponsor Andy Barr, but no committee vote or later legislative action changing the bill's status was identified through the September 23 review.

Industry Framework • Not Introduced Legislation

What the Goodness of Hemp Act framework proposes

The Goodness of Hemp Act is an industry-developed federal policy framework led by the National Hemp Association. The initiative continues to advocate for a comprehensive federal hemp framework, and a September 6 NHA update expressly stated that the proposal had not yet been introduced as legislation. It should therefore be understood as an advocacy framework, not a pending congressional bill.

1

Separate federal regulatory lanes

The framework would place hemp cultivation under USDA, cannabinoid wellness products and supplements under FDA, and products marketed to impair—including intoxicating hemp beverages—under TTB-style oversight.

2

Low-dose beverage limits

The campaign site describes final-form hemp products at no more than 3.7 mg THC per serving. Beverage-industry reporting describes the proposed beverage standard as 3.7 mg of intoxicating cannabinoids per 8 ounces and 15 mg per container.

3

Plant-derived products and product-form restrictions

The framework would prohibit synthetic compounds, limit conversion technologies, and would not authorize inhalables, raw flower or pre-roll consumer products, or systemic skin-delivery products.

4

Testing, age gating, and state authority

It proposes interim limits, testing, COAs, warnings, child-resistant packaging for oral products, age restrictions, adverse-event reporting, recall authority, and continued state control over in-state sale and retail regulation.

5

Tax and reinvestment structure

Products intended for impairment would be subject to an excise-tax structure, with portions of revenue directed toward road safety, state compliance, farmer assistance, research, supply-chain development, and market promotion.

6

Broader hemp-market goals

The framework also addresses industrial hemp, animal feed, certified seed systems, farmer support, domestic infrastructure, and marketing-order authority beyond the cannabinoid beverage market.

12-ounce beverage calculation: if the reported 3.7 mg-per-8-ounce formula is applied proportionally, a 12-ounce serving would equal approximately 5.55 mg, subject to the separately reported 15 mg-per-container ceiling. A standard single-serving 10 mg can would not fit that reported per-volume limit unless the framework changes or the serving structure is treated differently. This is a calculation based on a proposed framework, not a current legal limit.

Why it belongs on this tracker

The framework is one of the clearest industry-backed alternatives built specifically around USDA, FDA, and TTB jurisdiction and explicit beverage-dose concepts. Its commercial importance does not change its legal status: it is not enacted law, not an introduced bill, and not a substitute for tracking H.R. 9830 or the Comer draft separately.

Enacted law • Application temporarily limited by Public Law 119-103

What Section 781 actually says

On November 12, 2025, the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 was signed into law as Public Law 119-37. Section 781 of Division B amends the federal definition of hemp, effective 365 days after enactment.

Current overlay: Public Law 119-103 now limits the application of the Section 781 amendments until December 11, 2026, to the two specified clauses covering intermediate and final products containing cannabinoids that are not capable of being naturally produced by Cannabis sativa L.

1

Total THC enters the statutory definition

The amended definition uses total tetrahydrocannabinols and expressly includes THCA. USDA's separate hemp production rules calculate potential total THC with the formula Total THC = (0.877 × THCA) + delta-9 THC, but Section 781 itself does not prescribe a finished-product conversion formula.

2

A per-container threshold applies

A final hemp-derived cannabinoid product is excluded when it contains more than 0.4 milligrams combined total per container of total tetrahydrocannabinols, including THCA, and other cannabinoids determined to have, or marketed as having similar effects.

3

Production method matters

The amended definition excludes cannabinoids synthesized or manufactured outside the plant. This may include certain converted delta-8 THC and HHC products depending on how they were produced; the exclusion turns on production method, not only the cannabinoid name.

What counts as a container? Section 781 defines it as the innermost wrapping, packaging, or vessel in direct contact with the retail product. For a canned beverage, the can is the container. A 5 mg can exceeds 0.4 mg by 12.5 times.

How does this differ from the current total-THC production formula?

The USDA hemp-production rules in 7 CFR Part 990 use post decarboxylation or similarly reliable testing and account for THCA when determining total THC in hemp production. Section 781 moves a total-tetrahydrocannabinols standard into the statutory definition and applies a separate milligram-per-container test to finished hemp-derived cannabinoid products.

What does falling outside the federal hemp definition mean?

A product that no longer qualifies as hemp loses the protections associated with treatment as hemp under federal law, including federal interstate-commerce protections applicable to hemp. The precise Controlled Substances Act and other federal consequences for a specific product depend on its composition and on which Section 781 provisions are applicable at that time.

What did Congress direct FDA to publish?

Section 781 directed FDA, in consultation with other relevant federal agencies, to publish within 90 days lists addressing cannabinoids naturally produced by Cannabis sativa L., tetrahydrocannabinol-class cannabinoids, other cannabinoids with similar effects, and additional information about the statutory term “container.” Congressional Research Service report IF13136 stated that this publication had not been issued as of August 2026. NLL did not locate a later Section 781 cannabinoid-list or container publication in FDA or Federal Register materials reviewed through September 23, 2026. For the current legal-status summary, see Current Federal Status.

Introduced Federal Legislation Tracker

Bills that could delay, repeal, modify, or regulate the post-Section 781 landscape

Federal legislation last verified September 23, 2026. H.R. 6500 is now Public Law 119-103, which temporarily limits most Section 781 amendments until December 11. H.R. 10079 remains a beverage-specific proposal and added another cosponsor in September. H.R. 9830 remains a broader replacement proposal. H.R. 7024 has accumulated 40 cosponsors and remains pending in House Agriculture. The circulated Comer draft and Goodness of Hemp framework remain tracked separately because they are not introduced or enacted legislation.

Scope note: H.R. 6500 is no longer a pending legislative vehicle; it is enacted law. H.R. 9770 is retained only as a historical funding proposal that was superseded by the enacted H.R. 6500 package. H.R. 9830, H.R. 10079, H.R. 7024, H.R. 7010, S. 3686, H.R. 7212, S. 3474 and S. 4315 remain separate pending proposals with different regulatory approaches.

Bill Relationship to Section 781 Introduced Latest verified action
H.R. 10079: Beverage Regulatory Parity Act
Reps. Beth Van Duyne and Greg Landsman
Proposed beverage-specific federal framework. Would exempt compliant beverages from Section 781's per-container limit, protect intermediate manufacturing materials, limit total intoxicating THC to 5 mg per serving, set a separate 5 mg non-THC naturally occurring cannabinoid clause, establish TTB permitting, a three-tier distribution structure, testing and labeling rules, age-21 requirements, and a $0.08/mg proposed excise tax. August 10, 2026 In Committee
Referred to House Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means. Public legislative records indicate four cosponsors: Greg Landsman, Susie Lee, Josh Gottheimer, and Derrick Van Orden. Van Orden joined September 21. No committee vote has occurred.
H.R. 6500 / Public Law 119-103: Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027 Enacted Section 2019 temporarily limits the application of the Section 781 amendments until December 11 to the two clauses covering intermediate and final products containing cannabinoids that are not capable of being naturally produced by Cannabis sativa L. Senate passage August 8; House concurrence September 1; signed September 2, 2026 Enacted — Public Law 119-103
President Trump signed H.R. 6500 on September 2, 2026. Section 2019 is current federal law.
H.R. 9770: Continuing Appropriations Act, 2027
House-passed CR proposal
Earlier House-passed continuing-resolution proposal that did not contain the enacted Section 2019 hemp extension. It is retained here as legislative history; the current federal timeline is controlled by Public Law 119-103. July 21, 2026 Historical / Superseded
Passed the House 220–205 on July 21. Congress later enacted H.R. 6500 instead.
H.R. 9830: Lawful Hemp Protection Act
Rep. Andy Barr; cosponsor Rep. Angie Craig
Would repeal Section 781, define hemp at no more than 1 percent total THC including THCA on a dry-weight basis, create FDA and TTB oversight, establish a 21+ standard, require U.S.-only sourcing and final-product testing, and create a federal tax and distribution system for hemp beverages. July 22, 2026 In Committee
Referred to House Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, Agriculture, and Transportation and Infrastructure. Public legislative records show seven cosponsors in addition to sponsor Andy Barr. No committee vote has occurred.
H.R. 7010: Section 781 implementation delay
Rep. Jim Baird
Would replace Section 781's 365-day implementation period with three years, moving the effective date to November 12, 2028. January 12, 2026 In Committee
Referred to the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture on May 20. Four cosponsors are listed in current public legislative records.
H.R. 7024: Hemp Planting Predictability Act
Rep. Jim Baird
Parallel House proposal that would replace the 365-day implementation period with three years, moving the effective date to November 12, 2028. January 13, 2026 In Committee
Referred to the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture on May 20. Current public legislative data shows 40 cosponsors. The bill has not passed the House.
S. 3686: Hemp Planting Predictability Act
Sen. Amy Klobuchar
Senate proposal with the same three-year implementation change. January 15, 2026 Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
H.R. 6209: American Hemp Protection Act of 2025
Rep. Nancy Mace
Would repeal Section 781, with the bill text making the repeal effective November 12, 2025. November 20, 2025 Introduced
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
S. 3474: Cannabinoid Safety and Regulation Act
Sen. Ron Wyden
Would establish a federal cannabinoid regulatory framework. It authorizes standards that may include, for drinkable products in states without their own serving-size law, 5 mg THC per serving and 10 mg per container, and would prohibit sales to people under 21. December 15, 2025 Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
H.R. 7212: Hemp Enforcement, Modernization, and Protection Act
Rep. Morgan Griffith
Would create an FDA regulatory framework for cannabinoid hemp products, including oral products and beverages, with labeling, testing, registration, packaging, minimum-age, and future cannabinoid-content standards. It does not directly postpone Section 781's effective date. January 22, 2026 Introduced
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
S. 4315: Hemp Safety Enforcement Act
Sen. Rand Paul
Would amend the Section 781 framework to allow qualifying states and Indian tribes to use their own hemp and hemp-derived cannabinoid definitions and exercise primary regulatory authority, subject to specified conditions including a minimum purchase age. It would take effect when Section 781 takes effect. April 16, 2026 Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Planning implications

What Public Law 119-103 means for hemp beverage brands

The one-month partial extension is enacted law. Public Law 119-103 creates a two-date planning structure. November 12 still matters for the specified non-naturally-producible-cannabinoid clauses, while the broader Section 781 changes are temporarily held back until December 11.

What brands should be doing now

  1. Track both federal dates. November 12 applies to the specified non-naturally-producible-cannabinoid clauses; December 11 is when the temporary Section 2019 limitation ends unless Congress acts again.
  2. Do not treat December 11 as a permanent regulatory solution. Public Law 119-103 creates only a short temporary window.
  3. For conventional delta-9 beverages, keep the 0.4 mg clause in view for December 11. Section 2019 does not make that finished-product clause applicable before then, but product-specific federal and state review is still required.
  4. Track H.R. 10079 separately. It remains the most beverage-specific federal proposal and now has four cosponsors in addition to sponsor Beth Van Duyne, but it has not received a committee vote.
  5. Track the broader alternatives. H.R. 9830 would replace Section 781 with a wider regulatory framework, while H.R. 7024 would pursue a longer implementation delay.
  6. Keep state rules, FDA issues, testing, labels, and records separate. The federal extension does not erase state licensing, dose, packaging, retail, testing, or documentation requirements.

For the state layer, use the Next Level Leaf state resources. For the broader federal and manufacturing framework, explore compliance resources and beverage manufacturing.

We are not attorneys, and this page is not legal advice. It is designed to help beverage businesses understand the verified federal record and follow the changing timeline. Product-specific legal conclusions should be reviewed with qualified counsel.
Civic and industry resources

Want to make your voice heard?

Federal hemp policy is still developing. If you want to share your own views, business experience, or questions with Congress, the official House and Senate tools below can help you find and contact the lawmakers who represent you. Next Level Leaf is providing these resources without prescribing a message or policy position.

1

Find your U.S. Representative

House.gov can match your ZIP code to your current congressional district and link you to your Representative's website and contact page.

Find Your Representative

2

Contact your U.S. Senators

Senate.gov provides official contact information and links to contact forms for the senators who represent your state.

Contact Your Senators

3

Hemp Beverage Alliance Action Center

The Hemp Beverage Alliance operates a third-party advocacy Action Center for hemp-beverage issues. Its campaigns may promote specific policy positions, so review any message and decide whether it reflects your own views before participating.

Visit the HBA Action Center

Resource note: The House and Senate links above are official government resources. The Hemp Beverage Alliance Action Center is an industry advocacy resource and is separate from the official congressional contact tools. Next Level Leaf does not provide a canned message here and does not tell readers which position to take.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Section 781 was enacted in 2025, and President Trump signed H.R. 6500 on September 2, 2026, as Public Law 119-103. Section 2019 of that law temporarily limits which Section 781 amendments apply before December 11. November 12 still matters for the specified intermediate and final products containing cannabinoids that are not capable of being naturally produced by Cannabis sativa L.
Yes, but the enacted provision is more precise than a simple one-month change of the effective date. Public Law 119-103 says that until December 11, 2026, the Section 781 amendments apply only to products described in clauses (1)(C)(ii)(I) and (1)(C)(iv)(I) of the amended hemp definition.
President Trump signed H.R. 6500, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027, on September 2, 2026. It is Public Law 119-103.
Under Public Law 119-103, the Section 781 exclusions that apply beginning November 12 are the specified clauses for intermediate and final hemp-derived cannabinoid products containing cannabinoids that are not capable of being naturally produced by a Cannabis sativa L. plant.
Section 2019's temporary limitation ends on December 11. Unless Congress changes the law again, the broader Section 781 amendments would then apply, including the separate provisions addressing cannabinoids capable of natural production but synthesized or manufactured outside the plant and the finished-product 0.4 milligram combined-per-container threshold.
Yes. Section 2019 does not include the finished-product 0.4 milligram combined-per-container clause among the provisions that apply before December 11. Unless Congress changes the law again, that broader clause would begin applying when the temporary limitation ends December 11, 2026.
Section 781 separately excludes certain cannabinoids that are capable of being naturally produced by Cannabis sativa L. but were synthesized or manufactured outside the plant. Those clauses are not among the two provisions Section 2019 makes applicable before December 11, so the temporary limitation postpones their broader application until December 11 unless Congress acts again.
H.R. 10079 is a beverage-specific federal proposal introduced August 10, 2026. It would create a regulated federal pathway for qualifying hemp-derived beverages, including TTB permitting, distribution rules, testing, labeling, age-21 requirements, cannabinoid limits, and a federal excise tax. Current public legislative records indicate four cosponsors after Rep. Derrick Van Orden joined on September 21, but the bill has not received a committee vote and is not current law.
H.R. 10079 as introduced says Section 781's per-container intoxicating-cannabinoid limit would not apply to a hemp-derived beverage manufactured, distributed, labeled, advertised, and sold in accordance with the bill's requirements. That provision is proposed and has no legal effect unless enacted.
H.R. 10079 as introduced limits total intoxicating THC to 5 mg per serving. It separately states that a qualifying beverage may not contain more than 5 mg of non-THC naturally occurring cannabinoids. The words "per serving" are attached to the THC limit but not to the separate non-THC cannabinoid clause in the introduced text. That drafting distinction should not be treated as a final agency or judicial interpretation.
The bill proposes an excise tax of $0.08 per milligram of intoxicating THC. At 5 mg, that would equal $0.40 per beverage. This is a proposed tax, not a current federal tax on hemp beverages.
H.R. 9830 is a broader bipartisan House proposal introduced July 22, 2026. It would repeal Section 781 and create a federal regulatory, testing, labeling, age, tax, permitting, and beverage-distribution framework. Current public legislative records show seven cosponsors in addition to sponsor Andy Barr, but the bill remains in committee and is not current law.
H.R. 7024 is a pending House proposal that would move the Section 781 implementation period to three years after the 2025 enactment, effectively targeting November 12, 2028. Current public legislative data shows 40 cosponsors, and the bill was referred to the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture on May 20. It has not passed the House.
No hemp-specific Section 781 provision appears in the Agricultural Act of 2026 text posted by the Senate Agriculture Committee after its September 16 committee action; a search of the posted 983-page text returned no occurrence of the word "hemp." That does not prevent later amendments or other legislation from addressing hemp.
NLL did not locate the required Section 781 cannabinoid-list or container publication in FDA or Federal Register materials reviewed through September 23, 2026. Congressional Research Service report IF13136 had already stated that the publication remained outstanding as of August 2026.
A conventional hemp-derived beverage may still fit within the federal hemp definition during the temporary Section 2019 period depending on its ingredients, cannabinoid derivation, and other facts. Public Law 119-103 does not establish FDA authorization or override state law, so brands should keep federal hemp status, FDA requirements, state rules, testing, labeling, and distribution requirements separate.

Developing a hemp beverage while the federal rules are changing?

Next Level Leaf can help with formula selection or development, THC dose, flavor, packaging, testing coordination, production, and scaling while you keep the federal and state requirements under review.

Public Update Log

Verified tracker updates

  • September 23, 2026 — Major enacted-law and federal-policy review. Confirmed that President Trump signed H.R. 6500 on September 2 as Public Law 119-103. Reframed the tracker around the enacted two-date structure: the specified clauses for intermediate and final products containing cannabinoids not capable of being naturally produced by Cannabis sativa L. begin applying November 12, while Section 2019 limits the broader Section 781 amendments until December 11. Updated H.R. 10079 for the September 21 Derrick Van Orden cosponsorship, confirmed H.R. 9830 remains in committee, updated H.R. 7024 to reflect its 40 cosponsors and House Agriculture subcommittee referral, reviewed the September 16 Senate Agriculture Committee Farm Bill action, rechecked FDA/Federal Register materials, and added the Hemp Beverage Alliance to NLL's monitored industry-source set. Added a neutral civic-resource section linking to the official House representative finder, official Senate contact tools, and the separately labeled HBA Action Center.
  • September 2, 2026 — H.R. 6500 enacted. The House had voted 370–48 on September 1 to concur in the Senate amendments. President Trump signed H.R. 6500 on September 2, making the one-month partial Section 781 extension law as Public Law 119-103. This later enactment superseded the earlier September 2 pre-signature status reflected in NLL's same-day review.
  • August 30, 2026 — Verification and material update. Rechecked H.R. 6500, the Senate-passed amendment, the House schedule for the week of August 31, H.R. 10079, H.R. 9830, and recent FDA public materials. November 12 remains the current Section 781 effective date. Added the House return and House Republican opposition to the Senate hemp delay, updated H.R. 10079 and H.R. 9830 cosponsor information, and confirmed that neither bill has received a committee vote. No new public FDA Section 781 cannabinoid-list or container-guidance publication was identified.
  • August 22, 2026 — Verification review. Rechecked the official H.R. 6500 Senate engrossed amendment, Senate roll calls, the House floor record, H.R. 10079, H.R. 9830, H.R. 7024, S. 3686, S. 3474, H.R. 6209, and FDA public materials. No new statutory change, House concurrence on H.R. 6500, later action on H.R. 10079, or new FDA Section 781 publication was identified. November 12, 2026 remains the current federal Section 781 effective date.
  • August 16, 2026 — Verification update. Verified through the official GovInfo bill record that the Beverage Regulatory Parity Act is H.R. 10079, introduced August 10, 2026, by Reps. Beth Van Duyne and Greg Landsman and referred to the House Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means Committees. The bill remains proposed legislation, not enacted law.
  • August 11, 2026 — Material update. Added the August 10 Beverage Regulatory Parity Act bipartisan proposal (Rep. Beth Van Duyne / Rep. Greg Landsman) establishing a proposed Section 781 beverage carveout, protected intermediate materials pathway, 5 mg intoxicating THC per serving limit, separate 5 mg non-THC cannabinoid clause, TTB permitting, three-tier distribution structure, and $0.08/mg proposed federal excise tax ($0.40 per 5 mg beverage). Added OMB's August 3 Statement of Administration Policy supporting the Senate Amendment to H.R. 6500 as a whole, with the qualification that the SAP does not separately address hemp. Reconfirmed November 12 remains current law. Updated metadata, current-status section, legislation table, planning guidance, FAQs/schema, and primary sources.
  • August 8, 2026 — morning ET Material update. Confirmed Senate passage of the short-term continuing resolution by a 90–6 vote with the one-month Section 781 hemp delay intact. Updated the tracker to reflect that Senator Ted Budd tried to strip the hemp delay but the Senate turned aside his effort. Clarified that the extension has passed the Senate but is not yet law because the House must approve the Senate measure and the President must sign it. Updated the hero, current-status section, Budd section, legislation table, planning guidance, FAQs, structured data, metadata, and sources. November 12 remains the current legal date until enactment.
  • August 5, 2026 — afternoon ET Material update. Confirmed that the Senate is using H.R. 6500 as the continuing-resolution vehicle, the motion to proceed was agreed to by voice vote, and cloture was filed on Collins substitute amendment 6732 and on H.R. 6500. Clarified that the Senate advanced the vehicle—not the hemp extension as a confirmed final provision—and that this is procedural movement rather than passage or enactment. Because the official text of amendment 6732 was not yet publicly available in the records reviewed, the August 2 Senate extensions document remains the public source for proposed Section 2019. Updated the current-status summary, Budd opposition section, legislation table, FAQs, structured data, planning guidance, and source notes.
  • August 3, 2026 — 4:17 p.m. ET Material update. Added the U.S. Hemp Roundtable report that Senator Ted Budd intends to offer an amendment removing the temporary hemp extension from the Senate continuing resolution. Added a dedicated status section, updated the current-status summary, H.R. 9770 entry, planning guidance, FAQs, structured data, metadata, and source notes. NLL had not verified filed amendment text, an amendment number, an official sponsor release, or Senate action at the time of publication.
  • August 3, 2026 — earlier update Added the August 2 Senate continuing-resolution proposal and official Section 2019 text, explained the proposed temporary extension to December 11, distinguished the narrow non-naturally-producible cannabinoid provisions that would still apply November 12, added H.R. 9770 as the active funding vehicle, compared the House and Senate versions, and reconfirmed that November 12 remains the effective date unless the proposal is enacted.
  • July 30, 2026 Material update. Confirmed that the Lawful Hemp Protection Act is formally filed as H.R. 9830 and referred to four House committees. Added the July 29 seven-page draft attributed to Rep. James Comer as a separately labeled circulating draft, added the Goodness of Hemp Act as a separately labeled industry framework, updated the current-status summary, bill table, FAQs, structured data, and source record, and reconfirmed that Section 781 remains scheduled for November 12, 2026.
  • July 22, 2026 Material update. Reps. Andy Barr and Angie Craig introduced the bipartisan standalone Lawful Hemp Protection Act. NLL reviewed the released 60-page text, added the proposal to the federal tracker, and summarized its hemp definition, serving-limit, labeling, testing, permitting, tax, beverage-distribution, state-authority, Medicare, and impaired-driving provisions.
  • July 20, 2026 Weekly verification completed. No enacted delay, repeal, replacement, or other change to the November 12 effective date was identified. The tracker was expanded from four to seven federal bills, the H.R. 8646 amendment record was rechecked, and FDA's public-site publication status was reviewed.
  • July 11, 2026 Page launched. Public Law 119-37, the initial four Congress.gov bill records, FDA public-site search findings, and the June 24 White House/OMB request were reviewed for the initial publication.
Primary and supporting records

Official and public source documents

Government records are used for enacted law and formally introduced legislation. Published drafts, advocacy frameworks, and reporting are separately identified so readers can distinguish official legal status from active policy proposals.

Federal records were rechecked September 23, 2026. H.R. 6500 is enacted as Public Law 119-103. Section 2019 temporarily limits most Section 781 amendments until December 11 while the specified non-naturally-producible-cannabinoid clauses begin applying November 12. H.R. 10079, H.R. 9830, H.R. 7024 and the other standalone proposals remain pending. NLL did not locate the required FDA Section 781 cannabinoid-list or container publication through September 23. The Hemp Beverage Alliance is monitored as an industry advocacy source and is not used as controlling legal authority.

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