Lawmakers voted 224 to 200 on Tuesday to pass the Farm Bill, officially titled the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026. While the legislation includes several changes designed to reduce regulations for industrial hemp producers, it leaves untouched a controversial federal policy set to dramatically restrict hemp derived THC products later this year.
That omission is significant for the hemp industry.
Several bipartisan lawmakers introduced amendments that would either regulate hemp THC products more clearly or delay the upcoming ban altogether. However, those proposals were unexpectedly withdrawn before reaching the House floor. Another amendment that aimed to accelerate the ban was blocked by the House Rules Committee.
Under the 2018 Farm Bill signed by President Donald Trump during his first term, hemp and hemp derived products containing less than 0.3% delta 9 THC were federally legalized. But legislation signed late last year changed the rules. Starting November 12, only products containing less than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container will remain legal under federal law, a move many industry leaders say could wipe out large parts of the hemp THC market.
Although the new Farm Bill avoids the THC debate, it does include major reforms for industrial hemp grown for fiber, grain, and other non intoxicating uses.
The legislation would give states and tribal governments more flexibility in how they regulate hemp production. Proposed changes include simplified testing and sampling procedures, expanded use of certified seeds, and reduced restrictions for certain growers with past felony convictions related to controlled substances.
The bill also creates new rules requiring hemp producers to clearly identify what type of hemp they are growing and strengthens oversight to ensure crops match those designations. Farmers who intentionally violate those rules could lose their ability to obtain hemp licenses for up to five years.
Another key section directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture to create a formal accreditation process for hemp testing laboratories, an issue industry advocates have long argued is slowing down production and creating unnecessary bottlenecks.
In a committee report accompanying the bill, lawmakers emphasized their continued support for the industrial hemp industry, particularly producers focused on fiber, grain, and non cannabinoid compounds like terpenes.
The report argues that hemp should continue to be recognized as a legitimate agricultural commodity beyond just cannabinoids, noting that products like fiber, grain, and aromatic oils all come from different parts of the same plant through traditional farming processes.
Industry advocates are now turning their attention to the Senate, which is expected to begin work on its own version of the Farm Bill in the coming months. Many are hoping senators will step in to address the pending federal restrictions on hemp THC products before they take effect later this year.
