The South Dakota House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee passed an amended industrial hemp bill this morning on a vote of 11-0 and sent it to the full house. The amendment was agreed to between Governor Kristi Noem and legislators.
The Governor is standing by the guardrails she wants met before she’ll give final approval to the hemp legislation.
Noem says the hemp program can’t be paid for through fees and registration and the state must fund it.
Noem estimates it will cost close to $3.5 million to get the hemp program up and running and has asked the legislature to find room in the state budget for it. Representatives Lee Qualm of Platte and Oren Lesmeister of Parade are co-sponsors of the bill.
