Baird Introduces Federal Legislation to Support Hemp Farmers

Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) recently introduced the Hemp Planting Predictability Act to provide a two-year extension on the hemp provision passed in the FY2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations bill that restricts the definition of legal hemp. He was joined by House Oversight and Accountability Chair James Comer (KY-01), House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (MN-02), Congressman Tim Moore (NC-14), and Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08).

“Planting and growing crops requires planning well in advance,” Baird 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.”