SB 535 North Carolina Senate · 2025-2026 Session

Regulate Hemp-Derived Beverages.

SB 535 regulates hemp-derived beverages (nonalcoholic drinks containing hemp or specific cannabinoids like CBD or THC variants) by creating a new regulatory framework under North Carolina's alcohol beverage laws. It prohibits manufacturing, selling, or possessing these beverages without authorization from the ABC Commission, which will set safety standards and labeling rules. The bill directly affects businesses producing or selling hemp-based drinks, requiring them to comply with ABC Commission regulations starting July 1, 2025. This law does not legalize hemp beverages but establishes the process for their oversight, distinct from alcohol regulations.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 25, 2025 Last action Mar 26, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Filed → Edition 1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill transitioned from a filed draft to its first official edition, adding formal session information and bill identifiers. The most significant substantive change involves expanding the Commission's authority to accept test results from federal agencies, other states, or the beverage manufacturer itself, rather than requiring all testing to be performed by the manufacturer alone.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on regulating nonalcoholic hemp-derived beverages, but enforcement flexibility has increased by allowing alternative testing sources.

TECHNICAL

Added formal session information, bill number (S.B. 535), and filing date (March 25, 2025) to establish the bill's official status in the 2025 legislative session.

Added referral information directing the bill to the Rules and Operations of the Senate committee, dated March 26, 2025.

Removed draft identifiers (DRS45280-ML-122) and replaced them with official version number (S535-v-1) to reflect the bill's progression through the legislative process.

REQUIREMENT

Expanded testing authority by allowing the Commission to accept test results from federal agencies, other state agencies, or the manufacturer itself, rather than mandating manufacturer-only testing.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 26, 2025

Committee

Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

upper

Mar 25, 2025

Introduced

Filed

upper

2 primary · 2 co-sponsors