A bipartisan federal bill that would delay sweeping new restrictions on hemp products for two years has gained two additional supporters in the U.S. House, bringing the total number of sponsoring lawmakers to 41.
According to an updated Congress.gov listing, Representatives Robert J. Wittman (R-VA) and Gilbert Ray Cisneros Jr. (D-CA) joined the Hemp Planting Predictability Act, H.R. 7024, as cosponsors on August 27.
The additions bring the legislation to 40 cosponsors — 22 Democrats and 18 Republicans — in addition to primary sponsor Rep. James Baird (R-IN), meaning 41 House members are now formally backing the proposal.
Introduced in January, the Hemp Planting Predictability Act would postpone implementation of hemp-related provisions enacted as part of the fiscal year 2026 agriculture appropriations law. Those changes are currently scheduled to take effect November 12, 2026. H.R. 7024 would push the effective date to November 12, 2028.
The pending federal changes would substantially narrow the definition of legal hemp. Among other provisions, the law replaces the existing 0.3% delta-9 THC standard with a 0.3% total THC standard that includes tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA). It would also exclude final hemp-derived cannabinoid products containing more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container and products containing certain cannabinoids synthesized or manufactured outside the cannabis plant.
H.R. 7024 does not repeal those changes. Instead, it would change the implementation period from 365 days after enactment to three years, effectively giving hemp farmers, manufacturers and retailers an additional two years before the new definition takes effect.
The legislation was referred to the House Committee on Agriculture after its introduction and, on May 20, was referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture. It has not yet received a committee vote.
A Senate companion, S. 3686, was introduced by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), alongside Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR).
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