New 2026 Farm Bill Draft Targets Industrial Hemp Burdens

WASHINGTON – House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson (R-PA) introduced a new Farm Bill draft (Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026), proposing changes that would ease certain federal requirements for industrial hemp growers.

The bill, designated as House Resolution 7567, maintains the federal hemp production program established under the 2018 Farm Bill. It focuses relief on producers cultivating hemp for non-intoxicating uses like fiber and seed. Key provisions would permit the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), along with states and tribes, to reduce or eliminate testing requirements and background checks for these growers. The draft also allows for alternative compliance methods, including visual inspections, performance-based sampling, or use of certified seed. In addition, it directs USDA to create a process for accrediting laboratories to conduct hemp testing, which supporters say could improve efficiency and lower costs.

The House Agriculture Committee plans to begin markup of the draft on February 23.

Thompson’s office described the measures as steps to cut “regulatory burdens” that have complicated operations for industrial hemp farmers since federal legalization. The proposal distinguishes between industrial production and hemp grown for cannabinoids, allowing farmers to self-designate their crop type. This comes against the backdrop of tighter restrictions on intoxicating hemp-derived products enacted late last year through separate legislation, which redefined hemp to limit total THC content and exclude many consumable cannabinoid items starting in November 2026.

Industry participants note that while the changes could provide practical relief for traditional hemp sectors, the bill does not address broader uncertainties facing the cannabinoid side of the market.

As the legislative process advances, the proposal reflects ongoing efforts to balance oversight with operational flexibility in agriculture policy. For the hemp industry, particularly growers focused on fiber and seed, these adjustments [if enacted] could represent a meaningful reduction in compliance hurdles without altering the core federal framework.