Congressman Gabe Evans of Colorado’s 8th District has joined other lawmakers in introducing the Hemp Planting Predictability Act. The legislation seeks a two-year extension to the hemp provision passed in the FY2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations bill, which currently restricts the definition of legal hemp.
Evans worked with Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04), House Oversight and Accountability Chair James Comer (KY-01), House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (MN-02), and Congressman Tim Moore (NC-14) on this effort.
Evans highlighted the importance of hemp production in his district. “I’m proud to work alongside Congressman Baird and local businesses in Colorado’s 8th District on this much-needed fix to support responsible hemp production,” said Evans. “Colorado’s 8th District is home to 59 operating hemp facilities — including processors, retailers, extraction sites, and ingredient labs — that play a critical role in our state’s economy and help thousands of veterans access products that improve their physical and mental health. While we develop a long-term regulatory framework that improves public safety and grows domestic supply chains, this bill provides a path forward for the hemp industry, supports local jobs, and strengthens American competition.”
Baird noted the need for stability for farmers affected by recent legislative changes. “Planting and growing crops requires planning well in advance,” he said. “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. I am proud to introduce this legislation to ensure farmers have predictability and sufficient time to adjust to new laws that affect their livelihood.”
Comer expressed his support as an original cosponsor: “I am proud to be an original cosponsor of Rep. Baird’s bill to extend the implementation of new hemp restrictions by two years,” he said. “This common-sense extension gives farmers and America’s hemp industry the time they need to adapt while Congress works to establish a clear, reasonable regulatory framework. I have championed the hemp industry since my time as Kentucky’s Commissioner of Agriculture and remain committed to bipartisan solutions in Washington that support our local farmers and provide certainty for this growing industry.”
Craig addressed how recent regulation changes have impacted her state’s producers: “Recent changes to hemp production and processing regulations 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,” she said. “I’m proud to be introducing this common-sense legislation with my colleague Rep. Baird to fight these ill-thought-out policies and support the farmers and small business owners who make up Minnesota’s $200 million hemp industry.”
Moore also emphasized supporting small businesses: “I’m proud to support this legislation to delay the harmful hemp provision and give Congress the time we need to do this right,” he stated. “A decision with major consequences for farmers and small businesses belongs in the Agriculture Committee, instead of being buried in a government funding bill. I’ll keep fighting to ensure North Carolina’s hemp growers have a seat at the table and aren’t regulated out of business.”
The full text of the bill is available online.
