Public Hearing set for proposed Industrial Hemp regulations
Written public comment period open through February 11

[February 10, 2019]    A public hearing is set for Tuesday, February 5, 2019, to gather comments on proposed rules for the regulation of industrial hemp production and processing.

Those proposed rules were published December 28 in the Secretary of State’s Illinois Register, opening the 45-day First Notice public comment period, which ends at close of business on February 11.

Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) staff drafted these proposed rules, after the Industrial Hemp Act was signed into law in August 2018. This new law allows individuals or corporations licensed through IDOA to cultivate industrial hemp. IDOA will also register individuals or corporations that will process industrial hemp.

The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, February 5, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. in the auditorium at the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s John R. Block Building, located at 801 East Sangamon Avenue in Springfield, Illinois. Anyone who would like to make comments during the public hearing must sign up in person – registration begins at Noon on February 5 at the John R. Block Building. We ask that organizations choose one person to speak on behalf of their organization during the public hearing.

IDOA is also accepting public comments by email, fax, and mail during the 45-day First Notice public comment period through February 11. To submit a written comment:

Email to [e-mail]
Fax to [phone]
Mail to IDOA Hemp Comments, P.O. Box 19281, Springfield, IL 62794-9281

As soon as the rules are finalized and approved by the legislature’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, or JCAR, IDOA will begin accepting applications for industrial hemp licenses and registrations.

Click here to read the proposed industrial hemp rules, beginning on page 44.

[Illinois Department of Agriculture]