Committee clears cleanup bill to confirm State Plant Board may collect hemp inspection fees

Representative David Hillman (state representative, District 13) introduced HB1270 as a technical cleanup to clarify that the State Plant Board has authority to collect fees for hemp inspection and related activities. Hillman told the committee the governor, the plant board and industry support the bill and that he had found "no known opposition."

"The bill I've got today is kind of a a cleanup bill, from 2 years ago when we authorized hemp to be grown in Arkansas," Hillman said, explaining the statute did not clearly give the plant board fee-collection authority. He said the state will approach hemp regulation "slow and diligent and conservatively" so the industry develops without creating hardship for farmers.

Committee members asked about market prospects and federal changes. Hillman referenced the recent federal farm legislation and said the new federal rules removed certain federal regulations on hemp; he said it remained unclear how federal changes will play out in practice. Hillman also said he had contacts in Tennessee who expressed interest in planting "as much as 1,500 acres" in Arkansas, but emphasized that the plant board will have to approve each plot and that he expected the board to be "judicious in the size of the fields that they're gonna allow permits for this year."

Members also raised concerns about herbicide drift and related crop management (dicamba) and about which product markets might grow (oil, fiber, retail goods). Hillman noted hemp-derived products already appear in retail items and said parts of the market—from oil to fiber—could evolve over time. After brief discussion and no registered opposition, the committee made a motion to report HB1270 "Do Pass," voted by voice and the chair announced the motion carried.