Kratom Bills to Watch in the 2027 State Legislative Sessions
Most 2027 kratom bills have not been filed yet. Here are the studies, failed bills and federal deadlines that point to where they will come from, state by state.
Short answer: as of late October 2026, most kratom bills for 2027 haven't been filed. Legislatures open their sessions in January, and pre-filing usually starts late in the year. But the direction is clear from what's already on the record. Expect a wave of 7-OH bills written to line up with the DEA's 2026 scheduling action. Expect study committees in Montana and Virginia to report back, and expect states that failed to change their laws in 2025 or 2026 to try again. This page lists those signals with sources so you can follow your own state.
Laws change, so check before buying. Nothing here is a prediction that any bill will pass.
The backdrop: where state law stands going into 2027
A June 30, 2026 review by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) found:
- At least 31 states and Washington, D.C. regulate kratom or its components in some way.
- 19 states have labeling requirements, and 22 have age restrictions (7 set the minimum at 18, and 15 at 21).
- Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Vermont and Wisconsin schedule kratom or its components in Schedule I. Kansas joined in April 2026 (HB 2365).
- Tennessee enacted a statewide ban in 2026 ("Matthew Davenport's Law").
- Rhode Island reversed an earlier ban. It now regulates kratom sales but prohibits 7-OH products outright.
- Ohio permanently banned synthetic compounds such as 7-OH through pharmacy rulemaking, while lawmakers kept deliberating on regulating natural kratom.
For where every state stands today, see our state-by-state legality guide.
The federal trigger: 7-OH scheduling
The biggest driver of 2027 bills will probably be federal. Here's the timeline as of October 2026:
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| July 29, 2025 | The FDA recommends scheduling certain 7-OH products, and says it isn't targeting natural leaf. |
| July 1, 2026 | The DEA announces notices of intent to temporarily schedule 7-OH above a threshold, plus mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MP), MGM-15 and MGM-16. |
| August 26, 2026 | A temporary Schedule I order on MP takes effect, according to the DEA's October notice. |
| October 2026 | A revised DEA notice (FR Doc. 2026-20943, filed for publication October 14) would cover 7-OH and MP above 1 mg per gram or per milliliter, or where the ratio of mitragynine to those compounds is below 100. It withdraws the July 7-OH notice. A temporary order can't issue until 30 days after publication. |
A temporary federal order lasts two years, with a possible one-year extension, under the notice's terms. States will likely respond in two ways. Some will write the federal threshold into state law so that state police can enforce it. Others will use the moment to push broader restrictions. See our DEA 7-OH explainer for the mechanics.
States to watch
| State | On the record | What to watch in 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Montana | 2025 resolution HJ 60 requested an interim study of kratom, to be finished before September 15, 2026 and reported to the 70th Legislature. | Whether the study's recommendations become a regulation bill or a ban bill. |
| Virginia | In January 2026, a committee tabled HB 442, a kratom and 7-OH study bill, 5-0 and sent a letter to the Virginia State Crime Commission instead. | Any Crime Commission findings, and whether the sponsor returns with legislation. |
| Arkansas | SB 534 (2025), an Arkansas Kratom Consumer Protection Act that would have removed kratom alkaloids from Schedule I, passed the Senate but died in the House. | A refiled version in the 2027 regular session. See Arkansas's ban. |
| Mississippi | 2025 law (HB 1077): 21+, 7-OH caps, local bans preserved. In 2026, HB 863 proposed Schedule III. We couldn't confirm action beyond committee. | Whether scheduling bills return, and more county ordinances. See Mississippi's rules. |
| Kentucky | HB 293 (2024) regulates sales. Concentrated 7-OH above 400 ppm became Schedule I by regulation on March 12, 2026. | Whether lawmakers write the 7-OH rule into statute or change the 2% alkaloid cap. See Kentucky's rules. |
| Oklahoma | SB 891 took effect November 1, 2025. In July 2026, state agencies warned retailers about over-limit products, citing more than 50 deaths since January 2025 attributed to kratom products by the state medical examiner. | Pressure for tighter limits or new enforcement powers. See Oklahoma's rules. |
| Ohio | Synthetic 7-OH banned by pharmacy rule in 2026, while legislative work on regulating natural kratom continued (NCSL). | A natural-leaf regulation bill. See our Ohio 7-OH ban page. |
| Kansas and Tennessee | New 2026 scheduling and ban laws (NCSL). | Cleanup bills, enforcement and any repeal attempts. |
The bill types to expect
- 7-OH threshold bills. These write a 7-OH limit (a percentage of alkaloids, a ppm figure, or the DEA's mg-per-gram and ratio tests) into state law. Watch the units. Mississippi uses 1% plus 0.5 mg per container, Oklahoma 1%, Kentucky 2% plus 400 ppm, and Colorado 2% (per NCSL).
- Kratom Consumer Protection Act bills in unregulated states, with age limits, labeling, adulteration bans and sometimes registration.
- Full scheduling bills that add mitragynine and 7-OH to Schedule I or, as in Mississippi's 2026 proposal, a lower schedule.
- Reversal bills in ban states, modeled on Rhode Island's switch from a ban to regulation.
- Local-control bills that either preserve city and county bans (as Mississippi did) or preempt them.
How to track a kratom bill in your state
- Search your legislature's bill site for "kratom," "mitragynine" and "hydroxymitragynine." Bills don't always say "kratom" in the title.
- Check pre-filed bills in November and December. Many states post them before the session opens.
- Read the effective date. Many laws start months after passage. Some start immediately on the governor's signature.
- Look for agency rules too. Kentucky and Ohio both acted on 7-OH through regulation, not new statutes.
- Don't forget local government. Counties and cities can act faster than legislatures.
- Use NCSL's summaries for multistate context, but rely on the bill text for details.
What this means for buyers now
- Products marketed as "7-OH," "enhanced" or "extra strength" are the most likely to become illegal, or already are. Avoid them.
- Choose products whose lot-matched lab reports state 7-OH clearly, so you can check them against new limits.
- Don't stock up ahead of a possible ban. Possession after an effective date can be an offense, and regular use can lead to dependence.
- Recheck your state and local law before each order.
The FDA has not approved kratom for any use, there is no established safe dose, and anyone considering it should talk to a clinician first.
As of October 2026. Laws change, so check before buying. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Sources
- NCSL, "Lawmakers Weigh Guardrails, Bans on Kratom and 7-OH" (June 30, 2026): ncsl.org
- DEA notice of intent, FR Doc. 2026-20943: federalregister.gov
- DEA bulletin on 7-OH and related substances (July 1, 2026): DEA via GovDelivery
- HHS, FDA 7-OH scheduling recommendation (July 29, 2025): hhs.gov
- Montana HJ 60 (2025), kratom interim study resolution: montanafreepress.org (bill text)
- Virginia HB 442 (2026) committee action summary (January 24, 2026): cpo.soar.com
- Arkansas SB 534 (2025) bill history: pluralpolicy.com
- Mississippi HB 1077 (2025): ls.state.ms.us; HB 863 (2026) tracker: legiplex
- Kentucky 902 KAR 55:015: legislature.ky.gov
- Oklahoma OBN and OSDH joint notice on SB 891 (July 13, 2026): obndd.ok.gov
Before you buy: Kratom is not FDA-approved for any medical use, and there is no established safe dose. Regular use can lead to dependence, and stopping after regular use can cause withdrawal. Mixing kratom with alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, or other sedatives increases risk.
Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before use, especially if you take any medication. For confidential help with substance use, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 (free, 24/7).
Where kratom is legal: check the 7-OH line
MIT45 is an affiliate partner. It states that it does not ship where kratom is prohibited and requires buyers to be 21 or older. Its product pages state 7-OH figures and its site links a lab report (COA) for each product, such as Super K and Go, so you can check them against your state limits.
We may earn a commission if you buy through this link, at no extra cost to you. For adults 21+ only. Verify legality in your state and locality before purchasing.
Most 2027 kratom bills are not filed yet, but the signals are on the record: DEA 7-OH scheduling, Montana and Virginia studies, Arkansas and Mississippi bills that stalled, and new 2026 laws in Kansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio. Expect 7-OH threshold bills above all. As of October 2026; laws change, so check before buying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states might change kratom laws in 2027?
States with items on the record include Montana (interim study due to the 2027 Legislature), Virginia (study sent to the Crime Commission), Arkansas (2025 legalization bill died), Mississippi (2026 scheduling bill), Ohio (natural-leaf regulation under discussion) and Kentucky (7-OH rule).
Will 7-OH be banned federally?
The DEA filed a revised notice in October 2026 to temporarily place 7-OH and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl above a threshold in Schedule I. A temporary order cannot issue until 30 days after publication, so check the Federal Register for current status.
How many states regulate kratom?
NCSL reported in June 2026 that at least 31 states and Washington, D.C. regulate kratom or its components in some way, with 22 states setting age restrictions and 19 requiring labeling.
Has any state reversed a kratom ban?
Yes. NCSL reports that Rhode Island reversed its earlier ban and now regulates kratom sales while prohibiting 7-OH products outright.
How do I find kratom bills in my state?
Search your legislature bill site for kratom, mitragynine and hydroxymitragynine, check pre-filed bills in November and December, and watch agency rulemaking and local ordinances as well.