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HB 2657

An Act providing for the regulation and sale of kratom products; imposing a tobacco products tax on natural kratom products; imposing duties on the Department of Health; and imposing penalties.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lisa Borowski and 29 co-sponsors

Pennsylvania HB 2657 creates a regulatory framework for kratom, imposes a tobacco tax on natural kratom, and assigns DOH duties to license, enforce, and oversee enforcement.

Referred to Health
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 2657

Summary of HB 2657 (2025-2026) – Pennsylvania

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes a regulatory framework for kratom products in Pennsylvania.
  • Extends fiscal and health-related oversight by imposing a tobacco products tax on natural kratom products.
  • Dedicates certain duties and penalties to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
  • Provides for penalties associated with the new regulatory regime.

Key provisions and changes

  • Regulation of kratom products

    • Creates a statutory framework to regulate the sale and distribution of kratom products within the state.
    • Likely sets registration, licensing, labeling, safety, and quality requirements for kratom sellers and manufacturers (exact provisions would be in the bill’s text).
    • Tailors regulatory authority to oversee product standards, consumer disclosures, and enforcement mechanisms.

  • Tobacco products tax on natural kratom

    • Imposes a tobacco products tax specifically on natural kratom products.
    • The bill would designate a tax rate, tax base, and collection method (e.g., through retailers or wholesalers).
    • Revenue would be directed to state funds as defined by statute (the text would specify allocation or general fund use).

  • Duties on the Department of Health

    • Assigns responsibilities to the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) related to kratom regulation and enforcement.
    • Possible duties include licensing/registration administration, product recalls, consumer safety outreach, and incident reporting.
    • DOH may be authorized to adopt regulations, conduct inspections, and enforce penalties for noncompliance.

  • Penalties and enforcement

    • Establishes penalties for violations of the kratom regulatory framework (e.g., unregistered sale, mislabeling, illegal distribution, tax noncompliance).
    • Penalties could include fines, license suspensions or revocations, and potential criminal or civil remedies.
    • Provides for enforcement procedures and due process as part of the regulation.

Who and what is affected

  • Kratorial businesses and sellers

    • Retailers and manufacturers of kratom products would be subject to registration/licensing, labeling, and recordkeeping requirements.
    • Required compliance with safety, quality, and packaging standards.

  • Consumers

    • Increased transparency and safety through regulated products.
    • Potential impact on product availability or price due to regulatory costs and taxes.

  • State agencies

    • Department of Health gains new regulatory authority and enforcement duties over kratom products.
    • Possible coordination with tax authorities for collection of the kratom tobacco tax.

Procedural and timeline considerations

  • Legislative path

    • As of the latest action, HB 2657 has been referred to the House Health Committee for consideration.
    • Detailed timelines (floor votes, potential amendments, and enactment dates) would depend on committee action and subsequent floor votes.

  • Implementation timeline (typical)

    • If enacted, regulations and licensing regimes would likely be phased in over several months to a year to allow businesses to come into compliance.
    • Tax provisions would require established collection mechanisms and potential phased implementation, pending regulatory readiness.

Notes for readers

  • The bill centers on consumer safety and regulatory clarity for kratom products, alongside revenue generation via a designated tax on natural kratom.
  • The exact tax rate, registration fees, labeling standards, and enforcement procedures are specified in the bill’s text and would be critical for full understanding of fiscal impact and compliance burden.
  • Stakeholders include kratom producers/sellers, retailers, health regulators, and consumers seeking regulated product safety.

If you’d like, I can pull out the exact sections on licensing, the proposed tax rate, and the DOH duties once you provide the specific bill language or link to the bill’s text.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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