SB 59 North Carolina Senate · 2025-2026 Session

Age 21 Hemp-Derived Consumables/Kratom.

SB 59 requires state and local agencies to hold public hearings with agricultural advisory boards before condemning farmland within voluntary agricultural districts in North Carolina. The bill mandates that advisory boards must hold hearings and submit written recommendations within 45 days, and agencies cannot proceed with condemnation actions for 120 days after receiving these recommendations. It directly affects landowners in these districts, government agencies seeking to acquire land, and the advisory boards responsible for reviewing proposals. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, applying to condemnation actions initiated on or after that date.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Jun 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 5, 2025 Last action Jun 10, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Edition 1 → Edition 2 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten to shift from regulating voluntary agricultural districts to prohibiting the sale and possession of hemp-derived consumables and kratom products by anyone under 21. This change introduces new legal definitions for these substances, establishes an age verification requirement for sellers, and sets specific fines for violations.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from land use and condemnation procedures to consumer protection and substance regulation regarding hemp and kratom products.

SCOPE

Removed all provisions regarding voluntary agricultural districts, public hearings on farmland condemnation, and agricultural advisory board requirements.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'hemp-derived consumable product,' 'kratom product,' and 'synthesized kratom product' to clarify what substances are covered.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for sellers to demand proof of age from anyone they reasonably believe is under 21 years old.

ENFORCEMENT

Established that selling to or allowing possession by minors is a Class 2 misdemeanor with escalating fines ($500 for first offense, $1,000 for second, $1,500 for third or subsequent).

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from October 1, 2025, to December 1, 2026.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 12, 2025

How they voted

45–0

Passed · 6 other

Total votes 51

Mar 12, 2025

D Democratic20

16 Yea 4

80% Yea

R Republican31

29 Yea 2

93% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 10, 2026

Committee

Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

lower

Jun 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reptd Fav Com Substitute

lower

May 12, 2026

Committee

Re-ref to the Com on Agriculture and Environment, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

lower

Mar 17, 2025

Committee

Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed 3rd Reading

upper

Mar 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reptd Fav

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Committee

Re-ref Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reptd Fav

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

Re-ref to Agriculture, Energy, and Environment. If fav, re-ref to Rules and Operations of the Senate

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Committee

Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Introduced

Filed

upper

2 primary · 3 co-sponsors