Federal Proposal Seeks to Delay Incoming Hemp Product Crackdown

A bipartisan bill proposed in the U.S. House on Tuesday aims to provide a two-year extension on hemp provisions included in the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations bill that restricts the definition of legal hemp. 

In a statement, Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN) the bill’s sponsor, said an extension is needed because “Planting and growing crops requires planning well in advance.”  

“Congress created a regulatory environment in the 2018 Farm Bill that allowed for certain investments, and farmers were operating within this environment. The hemp provision included in the Continuing Resolution and Appropriations bills passed in November 2025 disrupted planting decisions that had already been made. Congress should not have passed such a sweeping policy change that upends a growing industry. Instead, Congress should have given farmers more time, creating a more stable environment for farmers to modify their future planting decisions.” — Baird in a press release   

In a statement, Rep. James Comer (R-KY), House Oversight and Accountability chair and co-sponsor of the legislation, called the Hemp Planting Predictability Act a “common-sense extension (that) gives farmers and America’s hemp industry the time they need to adapt while Congress works to establish a clear, reasonable regulatory framework.” 

Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN), House Agriculture Committee ranking member and co-sponsor, said in a statement the new rules “pulled the rug out from under Minnesota’s hemp producers, craft brewers, and retailers at a time when too many business owners are already dealing with high prices and uncertainty.”  

Rep. Gabe Evans (R-CO), a co-sponsor, in a statement noted that his district is home to 59 operating hemp facilities that play a role in the state’s economy, “and help thousands of veterans access products that improve their physical and mental health.”    

In a statement, Jonathan Miller, general counsel of the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, said the bill “puts more time on the clock for thoughtful policymaking and gives farmers greater clarity as they make decisions ahead of upcoming planting seasons.” 

“With the right approach,” Miller added, “hemp can continue to be a well-regulated agricultural product that contributes to rural economies and serves consumers responsibly.”   

The bill is currently in the House Agriculture Committee.