After weeks of back-and-forth court rulings over the future of the Texas hemp market, state regulators may again be able to enforce new rules targeting smokable hemp products and charging sharply higher fees on retailers and manufacturers.

The Texas Fifteenth Court of Appeals on Friday denied the hemp industry’s emergency request to keep a temporary injunction in place.

That temporary injunction, issued May 1, had blocked the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) from enforcing major portions of new consumable hemp regulations while the lawsuit against them plays out.

The appeals court’s order puts the case in a temporary holding pattern. The two sentence decision doesn’t decide whether the rules are legal. But for now, it pauses the lower court order that had allowed hemp businesses to keep selling hemp flower and concentrate.

Hemp is a legal category of cannabis that contains no more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC, the plant’s main psychoactive ingredient. Marijuana is cannabis with more than 0.3% Delta-9.

But cannabis can contain other mind-altering compounds including THCA, which converts to Delta-9 when heated or smoked. Hemp stores have been selling smokable cannabis with high levels of THCA, similar to the cannabis sold in states where marijuana is legal.

The state’s new “Total THC Rule,” which had been put on hold by the lower court, counts THCA as 88% Delta-9 when it comes to selling and manufacturing hemp products. The appeals court’s decision now means that rule is back in effect.

“I know it’s been a lot of crazy back and forth and the lawyers are doing their best to push this forward and keep this going,” said Lukas Gilkey, CEO of Hometown Hero, an Austin-based retailer and manufacturer of consumable hemp products. Gilkey helped set up the Texas Hemp Business Council, which is the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit seeking to block some of the state’s new hemp rules.

“This is really going to impact the small stores,” he said. “If they have flower that qualifies under the rules, then they’re allowed to sell it. If they don’t, then theoretically, yes, they would have to stop.”

Smokable hemp products account for well over half the market in Texas, according to estimates by Portland-based Whitney Economics and Robin Goldstein, director of the Cannabis Economics Group at UC Davis.

The temporary injunction had also frozen the state’s new fee schedule for hemp businesses. Retailers’ annual registration fee had increased from $150 to $5,000 per location. Manufacturing fees increased from $250 a year to $10,000 annually.

KUT News has reached out to DSHS to ask whether the agency plans to enforce the Total THC Rule or the new fee schedule,

Possession of THCA products is still not explicitly prohibited under state law, which uses the Delta-9 metric to differentiate between hemp and marijuana. Austin police have advised people carrying smokable hemp products to keep the packaging with them to avoid having the flower or concentrate confiscated by an officer.

The case continues before the Fifteenth Court of Appeals. A final trial in Travis County had been set for July 27, but the date was seen as more of a placeholder, and this appeal could affect that timeline.

As expected, running back Tai Phillips made his pledge to the Crimson Tide. He camped in Tuscaloosa a few weeks ago and the Bama staff was sold. Phillips canceled his official visit to Florida State and will OV the Capstone starting Friday. Alabama will hold their second High School Camp this weekend with several other prospects visiting as well

Also in the running for his commitment were Ohio State, NC State, and Penn State.

In 2025, Phillips had 116 rushes for 919 yards (7.9 ypc) and 12 TD in just seven games. He has been clocked at 10.86 in the 100 and 22.04 (1.2) in the 200. He is rated 3-stars but is rising fast. Don’t be surprised if he gains another star by December. Updated rankings will likely come sometime after the summer camps conclude and the Dead Period begins (June 22). Phillips is from Fayetteville, NC, but will play at Irmo HS in Columbia, SC this fall.

Southern Arkansas University has announced the launch of a new Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management, with enrollment beginning in Fall 2026. The program, housed in the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences in the Dempsey College of Liberal and Performing Arts, is designed to meet growing demand for trained emergency management professionals across government, public safety, healthcare, and the private sector.

The 120-credit-hour degree combines classroom instruction with practical application across the core disciplines of modern emergency management, including incident command and the National Incident Command System (ICS), homeland security and counterterrorism policy, critical infrastructure protection, cybersecurity, and emergency management technology. Graduates will be prepared to lead response, recovery, mitigation, and preparedness operations at the local, state, or federal level.

Dr. Jennifer Rowsam, dean of the Dempsey College of Liberal and Performing Arts, said, “We are excited to offer a program that will meet the needs of Arkansas. With the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy (ALETA) in East Camden and SAU-Tech housing the Arkansas Fire Training Academy, it is a natural fit for SAU to offer the next step for police, fire, and emergency medical professionals. The growing lithium industry in South Arkansas requires critical safety infrastructure, and we are excited to provide a degree to support growth in our region.”

The program is designed to serve both traditional undergraduate students interested in public safety or government service and working professionals in fire service, law enforcement, EMS, healthcare, or the military seeking advancement into command, administrative, or policy leadership roles.

Military veterans transitioning into civilian emergency management careers and adult learners with related credentials or experience are also encouraged to apply. SAU offers flexible transfer pathways and course formats designed to accommodate both traditional students and working professionals. Full admissions details are available on the program’s website.

Graduates of the program will be prepared for careers such as Emergency Management Director, Homeland Security Analyst, Critical Infrastructure Protection Specialist, Incident Commander, and leadership positions in fire service, law enforcement, EMS, healthcare systems, and emergency planning organizations. Potential employers include FEMA, the Department of Homeland Security, the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management, hospitals and healthcare systems, school and university safety offices, and private-sector risk management firms.

“As a former first responder, I understand how difficult it can be for emergency services professionals to pursue higher education while balancing work, family, and community responsibilities. That is why this fully online Emergency Management program was created with flexible 7-week courses designed specifically for today’s working professionals,” said Josh Miller, assistant professor of criminal justice. Miller added, “One of the greatest advantages of the 7-week format is that students can maintain a full course load while focusing on only two to three classes at a time, making the program more manageable and accessible for busy professionals.”

As communities across Arkansas and the nation face growing challenges related to disaster response, cybersecurity, public safety, and infrastructure protection, SAU continues to expand programs that directly support regional workforce and leadership needs. The new Emergency Management degree reflects the University’s commitment to preparing students for meaningful, high-demand careers while serving industries and agencies that play a vital role in protecting communities throughout the region.

To learn more about the Emergency Management program at SAU, visit SAU Emergency Management Program.

About SAU:

Southern Arkansas University provides students with the complete college experience in a caring environment of service, innovation, and community. With more than 100 degrees across four distinct colleges and the School of Graduate Studies, SAU initiates new degree programs to meet the needs of today’s career and professional trends. To learn more about SAU, visit www.saumag.edu.