HAC Appropriations Bill Proposes Hemp Definition Change

On June 4, the House Appropriations Committee released the Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, which modifies the definition of hemp in a manner that could ban most THC hemp products.

This change would affect the hemp-derived products currently considered compliant under the 2018 Farm Bill. According to the committee’s press release, the bill proposes redefining hemp to prohibit products containing any quantifiable amount of THC, non-naturally occurring cannabinoids and products with a similar effect as THC.

The Impact of the Appropriations Bill

If adopted, this new language could even render non-intoxicating hemp-derived products—including certain full-spectrum extracts, edibles, and topicals—unlawful if they have quantifiable amounts THC. The proposed legislation introduces legal uncertainty for hemp businesses already operating within state and federal regulatory frameworks.

In a statement, WSWA said they urge the subcommittee to “amend the proposed language to only eliminate synthetic hemp derivatives and explicitly grant states’ with primary regulatory authority.”

There are, however, some good factors that may come as a result of the Appropriations Bill. In the release, the House Appropriations Committee detailed the different ways the proposed bill plans on helping communities, including:

Continuing critical investments in agriculture research, rural broadband and animal and plant health programs.

Providing funds to ensure the safety of food, drugs and medical devices.

Ensuring low-income Americans have access to nutrition programs.

Reining in harmful regulations proposed during the Biden Administration that dictate how poultry and livestock producers raise and market their animals.

Increasing resources for the Food Safety and Inspection Service to fund frontline meat and poultry inspectors and bolster support for state inspection programs.

Providing a rider to block any revised energy standards for newly constructed homes financed by USDA that would increase costs for rural, lower-income households that was proposed during the Biden Administration.

A subcommittee markup is taking place on June 5, with any revisions to be posted at a later date.

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