Senate committee recommends bill to criminalize kratom possession after sponsor cites public‑health concerns

The Senate Finance Committee on April 8 recommended a bill addressing kratom after sponsor Gordon Hire described the substance and laid out public‑health concerns.

Gordon Hire said the bill responds to a growing threat and noted federal and public‑health agency stances. "Kratom contains a compound that activates opioid receptors to the brain is often referred to as gas station heroin," the sponsor told the committee, arguing the plant product can have opioid‑like effects at higher doses and has been linked to overdose concerns.

Committee members asked about the criminal penalty; the sponsor confirmed the measure would make possession or distribution a felony in the class specified by the bill. After brief questioning, the committee took a roll call and the clerk recorded 9 ayes and 2 noes; the transcript shows the bill was recommended for passage to the committee on the calendar.

What happens next: With the committee recommendation, the bill will appear on the calendar for consideration by the full Senate. The committee record includes the sponsor's public‑health framing and the recorded committee vote.

Sources: Sponsor Gordon Hire, Senate Finance Committee hearing, April 8, 2026.