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S. 1576Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Industrial Hemp Water Rights Act

Sponsored by Michael F. BennetSen. Michael F. Bennet (D-CO)
Introduced July 18, 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 5:09 PM UTC

The Industrial Hemp Water Rights Act lets owners of water rights—whether they hold absolute or conditional rights, or have contracts with the federal government—use that water to grow industrial hemp, as long as the state where the water is used allows hemp cultivation. The bill overrides any federal laws that might otherwise block such water use for hemp.

Key Provisions

  • Defines "industrial hemp" by referencing the definition in the 2014 Agricultural Act.
  • Allows water right owners or federal water contractors to use or sell water for industrial hemp cultivation, even if federal law would normally restrict it.
  • Requires that the use be permitted under the relevant state’s laws on hemp.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

July 18, 2017

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

July 18, 2017

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

July 18, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued July 18, 2017

II

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1576

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 18, 2017

Mr. Bennet (for himself, Mr. Daines, Mr. Tester, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Wyden, and Mr. Merkley) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To provide that the owner of a water right may use the water for the cultivation of industrial hemp, if otherwise authorized by State law.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Industrial Hemp Water Rights Act.

2.

Use of water for industrial hemp cultivation

(a)

Definition of industrial hemp

In this section, the term industrial hemp has the meaning given the term in section 7606(b) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 5940(b)).

(b)

Use for industrial hemp cultivation

Notwithstanding the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), chapter 81 of title 41, United States Code, or any other Federal law, an owner of an absolute or conditional water right, or an entity that receives or distributes water contracted from the Federal Government, may use or sell for use by another person the water subject to the water right or the contract, as applicable, for the cultivation of industrial hemp, regardless of whether the water has passed through a Federal water project, if the growth or cultivation of industrial hemp is otherwise authorized under the laws of the State in which such use occurs.