South Dakota's industrial hemp law is being overhauled to streamline regulations and clarify definitions, including raising the allowed THC limit from 0.3% to 0.3% on a dry weight basis and explicitly prohibiting certain chemically-derived cannabinoids (like delta-8 THC, delta-10 THC, and HHC) from being sold as hemp products. The bill eliminates nearly all of the old hemp licensing and regulatory sections, replacing them with a simpler framework that aligns with federal USDA hemp regulations. This significantly reduces the state's direct oversight of hemp production and shifts compliance responsibility to federally-licensed growers.
The amendment reorganized and renumbered the bill's definitions, moving "Licensed hemp producer" from position 3 to position 10 and restructuring the order of all subsequent definitions accordingly.
The amendment removed multiple definitions (applicant, key participant, greenhouse, industrial hemp stalk bale, lot, measurement of uncertainty) and simplified remaining definitions by removing alternative phrasings and redundant language.
Signed by the Governor S.J. 548
Delivered to the Governor S.J. 539
Signed by the Speaker H.J. 560
Signed by the President S.J. 525
Senate Concurred in amendments Passed, YEAS 31, NAYS 3. S.J. 511
House of Representatives Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 55, NAYS 12. H.J. 525
Agriculture and Natural Resources Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 8, NAYS 3. H.J. 35
Agriculture and Natural Resources Motion to amend H.J. 35
Agriculture and Natural Resources Scheduled for hearing H.J. 1
First read in House and referred to House Agriculture and Natural Resources H.J. 136
Senate Do Pass Passed, YEAS 30, NAYS 4. S.J. 95
Agriculture and Natural Resources Do Pass Passed, YEAS 6, NAYS 1. S.J. 5
Agriculture and Natural Resources Scheduled for hearing S.J. 1
Agriculture and Natural Resources Scheduled for hearing
First read in Senate and referred to Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources S.J. 10
Concurred in amendments
Do Pass Amended
Agriculture and Natural Resources — Do Pass Amended
Do Pass
Agriculture and Natural Resources — Do Pass