U.S. Congress: Bipartisan Hemp Bill to Delay New Restrictions Now Has 36 Sponsors
- The Hemp Planting Predictability Act, HR 7024, aims to delay federal hemp restrictions from November 2024 to November 2029 and currently has 36 bipartisan and bicameral sponsors.
- The House version of the bill has grown to 33 bipartisan sponsors, including recent additions Representatives Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Kelly Morrison (D-MN).
- A companion Senate bill, S. 3686, was introduced by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) to mirror the House effort.
- The legislation seeks to postpone the hemp regulation changes for three years to provide producers, regulators, and businesses more time to adjust, without permanently repealing the restrictions.
Bipartisan and bicameral legislation in the U.S. Congress that would delay federal hemp restrictions set to take effect this November now has 36 sponsors. The Hemp Planting Predictability Act, HR 7024, was introduced January 13 by Representative Jim Baird (R-IN), joined at the time by Representatives James Comer (R-KY), Gabe Evans (R-CO), Tim Moore (R-NC), and Angie Craig (D-MN). Since its filing, it has gained 28 additional sponsors. The proposal would push back implementation of the new hemp restrictions from 365 days to three years, meaning they wouldn’t take effect until November 2029.
The House version now has 33 bipartisan sponsors after two additional lawmakers signed on last week, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Rep. Kelly Morrison (D-MN).
A companion measure, Senate Bill 3686, was introduced January 15 by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Rand Paul (R-KY) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR).
If approved, the legislation would not permanently repeal the underlying hemp changes. Instead, it would give producers, regulators and businesses additional time to prepare by delaying implementation for three years.