HB1640 Summary

• Repeals the existing Arkansas Industrial Hemp Act (§ 2-15-401 et seq.) and replaces it with the new Arkansas Industrial Hemp Production Act (§ 2-15-501 et seq.)

• Establishes the State Plant Board and Department of Agriculture as regulators of industrial hemp production, with authority to issue grower licenses, conduct inspections, and test for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) compliance at no more than the federal limit

• Requires growers to maintain records for 3 years, report crop acreage to the U.S. Farm Service Agency with geospatial locations, and allow departmental inspections and sampling throughout cultivation

• Creates enforcement mechanisms including corrective action plans for negligent violations, civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation, and license revocation for violations with greater culpability, with ineligibility periods of up to 5 years

• Prohibits growers with felony convictions related to controlled substances from participating for 10 years and requires criminal background checks and fingerprinting for all program participants