Hemp Planting Predictability Act
Hemp Planting Predictability Act
Plain Language Summary
# Hemp Planting Predictability Act Summary **What the Bill Does:** The Hemp Planting Predictability Act would delay new federal regulations on hemp products by two years. A recent agriculture law (passed in November 2025) is scheduled to reimpose certain federal controls over some hemp products starting November 2026. This bill would push that deadline back to November 2028, giving the hemp industry more time to prepare for the regulatory changes. **Who It Affects:** The bill primarily impacts hemp farmers, producers, and businesses that grow or sell hemp-derived products. Since the 2018 farm bill legalized hemp with low THC levels (0.3% or less), the industry has grown significantly.
This delay would benefit those businesses by extending the current, more flexible regulatory environment for two additional years. **Key Provision & Current Status:** The main provision simply extends the implementation timeline for the new regulations. The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full House of Representatives. As a two-year extension, it's largely a procedural measure aimed at giving the hemp industry more predictability and time to adjust to coming regulatory changes.
CRS Official Summary
Hemp Planting Predictability ActThis bill extends by two years the implementation of changes to the regulation of hemp products, which reimpose certain federal controls over some hemp products.Specifically, Congress enacted the FY2026 agriculture appropriations act (P.L. 119-37) on November 12, 2025. Effective November 12, 2026, the act modifies the statutory definition of hemp products that are considered to be lawful. This bill extends the effective date to November 12, 2028.As background, the 2018 farm bill excluded hemp from the Controlled Substances Act definition of marijuana and defined hemp. As a result, hemp and hemp-derived products at or below the 0.3% delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana) concentration threshold were no longer regulated as Schedule I controlled substances and registration with the Drug Enforcement Administration was no longer required to cultivate or handle hemp and hemp-derived products. However, hemp remained subject to Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration regulation.The 2025 changes to the definition of hemp, includechanging the limit to a total THC concentration of not more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis rather than only delta-9 THC,explicitly including industrial hemp,excluding seeds from a cannabis plant that exceed a certain THC concentration, andexcluding various types of hemp-derived cannabinoid products.Cannabinoids refer to unique chemical compounds that are found in hemp and marijuana (e.g., THC) and are known to exhibit a range of psychological and physiological effects.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.