AlaskaIndustrial hemp growers would follow updated testing and enforcement rules
If enacted, SB 208 would revise hemp oversight, create application-based options for agricultural state land, exempt qualifying hemp from the stated tax, and name Alaska's official vegetable.
What it does
Registered hemp growers would follow risk-based testing, reporting, transportation, and enforcement rules. Certain plants with THC between 0.3% and 1% could be treated for industrial use instead of destroyed.
People could apply to buy or lease state land for farming or livestock use. Officials would score proposals, publish applications, and require approved development and conservation plans.
Qualifying industrial hemp and products with no more than 0.3% THC would be exempt from the stated hemp tax. Some former registrants could seek fee-free reinstatement.
Alaska would recognize the O-S Cross cabbage, commonly called giant green cabbage, as the state's official vegetable.
Argument forRisk-based testing and corrective plans could let lower-risk hemp growers face fewer inspections while giving growers ways to fix some violations.
Argument againstApplicants and lessees could face detailed plans, public disclosure, inspections, penalties, and possible lease termination when using state agricultural land.
More detail
The Department of Natural Resources would set and enforce rules for registered industrial hemp growers. The rules would cover people registered to grow industrial hemp, including micro-growers with less than one-quarter acre or fewer than 200 plants. Testing would use federally compliant methods and account for measurement uncertainty. Plants testing above 1 percent THC would have to be destroyed. Registered growers with plants testing between 0.3 percent and 1 percent THC could retain, recondition, remediate, or convert them for nonintoxicating industrial use. Growers would keep transfer records for at least three years and make them available after at least 10 days' notice. The provisions identified for industrial hemp would take effect July 1, 2026, if enacted.
The Department of Natural Resources could sell or lease certain state land for agricultural uses through applications, public notice, auctions, sealed bids, negotiation, or other stated methods. Applicants would need to identify the land and explain their proposed farming or livestock use, conservation plans, finances, qualifications, and development plans. The department would evaluate applications using regulatory scoring criteria, including the proposed use, conservation, experience, and financial viability. Applications and supporting materials would be public records and would be published with the department's evaluation. Agricultural leases could allow housing for farmers and farm laborers when approved in the development plan. A lease could be ended for failing to use the land for agriculture or follow the approved plan. Agricultural leases under the new lease process could last up to 20 years, with renewal terms of up to 20 years each; other land-sale and lease provisions would generally take effect January 1, 2027, if enacted.
Compliant industrial hemp and qualifying hemp products would not be subject to the tax described in AS 43.61.010. The exemption would cover hemp produced in compliance with the registration law and hemp products containing no more than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC by dry weight. Testing would have to meet the stated requirements. A person whose registration was valid during 2021 through 2025 could seek reinstatement without a renewal fee if the registration lapsed solely because of department regulatory action during 2024 or 2025. The department could not require destruction of qualifying hemp held by an eligible reinstated registrant. The tax exemption and reinstatement provisions would take effect July 1, 2026, if enacted.
The O-S Cross cabbage, also called giant green cabbage, would be designated Alaska's official state vegetable. The designation applies to the O-S Cross cabbage, scientifically identified as Brassica oleracea var. capitata. This designation would take effect immediately under the stated effective-date provision, if enacted.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Aug 11(S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW SEE CHAPTERLatest
- Aug 11(S) LAW W/O GOVERNOR SIGNATURE 8/10 CHAPTER 60 SLA 26Major
- Jul 27(S) MANIFEST ERROR(S)
- Jul 27(S) 9:25 A.M. 7/23/26 Transmitted to GovernorTo Governor
- May 18(S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
- Vote recorded (S) CONCUR AM OF (H) Y17 N3 #2752. Result: pass.Upper
- May 18(S) CONCUR AM OF (H) Y17 N3
- May 18(S) CONCUR MESSAGE READ AND TAKEN UP
- May 17(H) VERSION: HCS CSSB 208(RES) AM H
- Vote recorded (H) PASSED Y39 N1 #2726. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded (H) AM NO 4 FAILED Y19 N21 # 2724. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded (H) AM NO 5 FAILED Y19 N21 # 2725. Result: fail.Lower
- May 17(H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) AS AMENDEDMajor
- May 17(H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): ELAM
- May 17(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
- May 17(H) PASSED Y39 N1Major
- May 17(H) READ THE THIRD TIME HCS CSSB 208(RES) AM HMinor
- May 17(H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UCMinor
- May 17(H) AM NO 5 FAILED Y19 N21Minor
- May 17(H) AM NO 4 FAILED Y19 N21Minor
- May 17(H) ...CHANGES TITLE OF LEGISLATION
- May 17(H) AM NO 3 ADOPTED UCMajor
- May 17(H) AM NO 2 NOT OFFERED
- May 17(H) MOVED TO BOTTOM OF CALENDAR
- May 17(H) TITLE CHANGE: HCR 26
- May 17(H) ...CHANGES TITLE OF LEGISLATION
- May 17(H) AM NO 1 ADOPTED UCMajor
- May 17(H) RES HCS ADOPTED UC
- May 17(H) READ THE SECOND TIMEMinor
- May 17(H) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/17/2026
- May 16(H) FN2: ZERO(DNR)
- May 16(H) NR: COULOMBE, HALL, SADDLER, ELAM
- May 16(H) DP: FIELDS, MEARS, DIBERT, FRIER
- May 16(H) RES RPT HCS(RES) 4DP 4NR
- May 15(H) Moved HCS CSSB 208(RES) Out of Committee -- Delayed to a Call of the Chair --
- May 15(H) RESOURCES at 01:00 PM BARNES 124
- May 14(H) RES
- May 14(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALSMinor
- May 13(S) VERSION: CSSB 208(RES)
- Vote recorded (S) PASSED Y20 N- #2625. Result: pass.Upper
- May 13(S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)Passed House
- May 13(S) COSPONSOR(S): RAUSCHER, TILTON
- May 13(S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
- May 13(S) PASSED Y20 N-Passed Senate
- May 13(S) READ THE THIRD TIME CSSB 208(RES)Minor
- May 12(S) COSPONSOR(S): KIEHL, GIESSEL, YUNDT, CLAMAN, KAUFMAN, CRONK
- May 12(S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/13 CALMinor
- May 12(S) RES CS ADOPTED UC
- May 12(S) READ THE SECOND TIMEMinor
- May 12(S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/12/2026
- May 6(S) FN2: ZERO(DNR)
- May 6(S) NR: STEDMAN, KAUFMAN, CRONK, MERRICK
- May 6(S) DP: OLSON, HOFFMAN, KIEHL
- May 6(S) FIN RPT CS(RES) 3DP 4NR
- May 4(S) Minutes (SFIN)
- May 4(S) Moved CSSB 208(RES) Out of Committee -- Please Note Time Change --
- May 4(S) FINANCE at 01:30 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
- Apr 27(S) Heard & Held
- Apr 27(S) FINANCE at 09:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
- Apr 20(S) FN1: ZERO(DNR)
- Apr 20(S) AM: KAWASAKI
- Apr 20(S) NR: DUNBAR, CLAMAN
- Apr 20(S) DP: GIESSEL, MYERS
- Apr 20(S) RES RPT CS 2DP 2NR 1AM NEW TITLE
- Apr 17(S) Moved CSSB 208(RES) Out of Committee
- Apr 17(S) RESOURCES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
- Apr 10(S) Heard & Held
- Apr 10(S) RESOURCES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
- Apr 1(S) Heard & Held
- Apr 1(S) RESOURCES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
- Jan 21(S) RES, FIN
- Jan 21(S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALSMinor
- Jan 21(S) Prefile released 1/16/26Introduced
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