North Carolina Rep. Potts tobacco and hemp ban bill passes both chambers of North Carolina General Assembly

Passed bill sponsored by State Rep. Larry W. Potts aims to expand prohibitions on tobacco and hemp products, including delta-8 and delta-9 variants, in public schools statewide, according to the North Carolina State House.

In the House, 46 Democrats and 66 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 12 Democrats and 23 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while three Democrats and four Republicans voted against it.

Potts filed the bill in the North Carolina House on March 6 during the 2025 regular session.

The legislation, known as HB 328, was passed on June 19 during the 2025 regular session.

According to the North Carolina General Assembly site, the bill’s official text was formally listed with the short title: “Ban Delta-8 & Delta-9 on School Grounds.”

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill seeks to reinforce and expand the ban on the use of tobacco and hemp products, including delta-8 and delta-9 variants, on school grounds in North Carolina. It mandates that by the start of the 2025-26 school year, all public school units must adopt, implement, and enforce a policy prohibiting such products at any time in school buildings, facilities, campuses, or during school-sponsored events. The policy’s elements include providing adequate notice to students, parents, and staff, posting prohibitive signs, and requiring school personnel to enforce the policy. The bill also allows for instructional use of these products if educational activities are overseen by faculty and do not involve consumption. This act becomes effective upon becoming law and applies to all public schools statewide, with the option for schools to implement more stringent restrictions if desired.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Carla D. Cunningham (Democrat-106th District), Rep. Donny Lambeth (Republican-75th District), and Rep. Larry W. Potts (Republican-81st District), along with one other sponsor.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Potts, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2017 to represent the state’s 81st House district, replacing previous state representative Rayne Brown.

Under North Carolina law, bills must receive three readings in each chamber. According to the UNC School of Government, once a bill “passes its constitutionally required second reading and moves to its constitutionally required third reading,” additional debate can occur, but the final stage is often treated as a formality. Unless a legislator requests a roll-call, the third reading may be approved by voice vote or unanimous consent without a separate recorded tally.