SACRAMENTO – State Sen. Scott Wilk, representing the 21st Senate District, announces that Senate Bill 153 (SB 153), a measure to ensure California is well positioned to begin the cultivation of industrial hemp, has cleared the Senate Appropriations Committee and will now go to the floor for consideration.

“Industrial hemp is a natural fit for California’s arid climate and I am very glad to see this legislation moving forward. It means opportunity for farmers in the AV and mortgage paying jobs for others,” said Wilk, R-Santa Clarita. “Hemp is used in 25,000 different products so it is likely the AV will see an uptick in the manufacturing of hemp-related products and farmers will water per acre by switching to it.”

In 2018, with the passage of SB 1409 (Wilk), California streamlined industrial hemp production rules and became compliant with then existing federal law. Later in the year the President signed H.R.2 – the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (farm bill), resulting in new requirements. A state’s plan to license and regulate hemp can only commence by complying with federal law.

SB 153 would revise California’s provisions regulating the cultivation and testing of industrial hemp to conform to the requirements for a state plan under the federal farm bill. SB 153 requires the Secretary of CDFA, in consultation with the Governor and the Attorney General, to develop and submit a state plan to the Secretary of the USDA, on or before January 31, 2020.

Senator Wilk represents the 21st Senate District which includes the Antelope, Santa Clarita and Victor Valleys.