History: 

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The Texas Hemp Industries Association (TXHIA) is the official state chapter of the Hemp Industries Association, the nation's oldest and most respected association since 1994.  The TXHIA was formed in 2014 by Henry Valles, Matt Ditlow, and Robby King, all of Austin, whose primary interest in hemp was for the building industry.  In the summer of 2014  industrial hemp was placed on the Texas Republican Platform and was supported by the Hemphill family, Mark and Sheila with their son Coleman and daughter Christian as GOP delegates.  On January 5, 2015, seven days before the 2015 legislative session started, Sheila contacted the national Hemp Industries Association (HIA) to see who would be working the Texas Legislature to allow Texas farmers to grow hemp like 29 states at the time.  No one was working hemp legislation so Sheila and Coleman picked up the banner and have been dedicated advocates since.  In 2016, their efforts took them to multiple events with booths at the Republican Convention and Democratic Convention where hemp was added to the Democratic platform, The TXHIA had booths and attended the Texas Wildlife Association, Texas Seed Growers Convention and many Universities (Texas A&M, Texas Tech, University of Houston, University of North Texas)  and various hemp events..  In December of 2016, hemp was added to the Texas Farm Bureau policy book. 

Below is a summary of the hemp bills proposed and passed in Texas.

• 2019 HB 1325 Bill 

       Sponsor - Senator Charles Perry Senate District 28

       Author - Representative Tracy King  District 80

• 2017 HB 3587 Bill
  Author - Representative Bill Zedler District 96

• 2015 HB 1322 Bill
  Author - Representative Joe Farias District 118
   

With the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill many lobbyist and companies worked diligently to get to the June 10, 2019 signing of HB1325 Texas Hemp Legislation by Governor Abbott, Texas farmers are now able to participant in the current and future markets this crop will bring to desperate rural communities and agriculture markets.

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Mission & Goals:

 

The mission of the Texas Hemp Industries Association (TXHIA) is to represent the interests of the hemp industry in the great state of Texas. As a 501(c)(6) membership-based non-profit trade group, we seek to encourage the research and development of new products made from industrial hemp while offering our members a network of like-minded, trusted individuals within the current hemp industry.