ARC 6806C

ARC 6806C

AGRICULTURE AND LAND STEWARDSHIP DEPARTMENT[21]

Notice of Intended Action

Proposing rule making related to hemp

and providing an opportunity for public comment

The Agriculture and Land Stewardship Department hereby proposes to amend Chapter 96, "Hemp," Iowa Administrative Code.

Legal Authority for Rule Making

This rule making is proposed under the authority provided in Iowa Code section 204.3.

State or Federal Law Implemented

This rule making implements, in whole or in part, Iowa Code chapter 204 as amended by 2022 Iowa Acts, House File 2380.

Purpose and Summary

This proposed rule making implements changes that were made to the Department's hemp program during the 2022 Legislative Session. Under the new law, producers can be licensed to grow up to 320 acres of hemp; they were previously limited to 40 acres. These proposed amendments reflect the new 320-acre limit, update the fee structure accordingly, increase transparency, and update the sampling methodology to ensure a 95 percent confidence interval for testing of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Fiscal Impact

This rule making has no fiscal impact to the State of Iowa.

Jobs Impact

After analysis and review of this rule making, no impact on jobs has been found.

Waivers

Any person who believes that the application of the discretionary provisions of this rule making would result in hardship or injustice to that person may petition the Department for a waiver of the discretionary provisions, if any, pursuant to 21—Chapter 8.

Public Comment

Any interested person may submit written or oral comments concerning this proposed rule making. Written or oral comments in response to this rule making must be received by the Department no later than 4:30 p.m.on January 31, 2023. Comments should be directed to:

Public Hearing

No public hearing is scheduled at this time. As provided in Iowa Code section 17A.4(1)"b," an oral presentation regarding this rule making may be demanded by 25 interested persons, a governmental subdivision, the Administrative Rules Review Committee, an agency, or an association having 25 or more members.

Review by Administrative Rules Review Committee

The Administrative Rules Review Committee, a bipartisan legislative committee which oversees rule making by executive branch agencies, may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this rule making at its regular monthly meeting or at a special meeting. The Committee's meetings are open to the public, and interested persons may be heard as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.8(6).

Emergency Rule Making Adopted by Reference

This proposed rule making is also published herein as an Adopted and Filed Emergency rule making (see ARC 6807C, IAB 1/11/23). The purpose of this Notice of Intended Action is to solicit public comment on that emergency rule making, whose subject matter is hereby adopted by reference.