Assembly Bill 740
Growing and processing industrial hemp, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation
Topics: Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Department of, Criminal identification and investigation, Plants
Stopped before the full Assembly voted
The recommended passing it, but the full Assembly never voted on it. To try again, a lawmaker would have to start a new bill.
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Introduced, passed
Feb 11, 2010
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Assembly vote, stopped here
Stopped here. The full Assembly never voted on it.
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Senate vote, not reached
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Governor, not reached
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Law, not reached
Latest entry in the official record, Apr 28, 2010: “Failed to pass pursuant to ”
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Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. More in the glossary
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary
Author
A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate. More in the glossary
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary
What it would have done
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
Current law places various restrictions on the possession, manufacture, and delivery of controlled substances. One such controlled substance is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), including THC contained in or obtained from marijuana. The controlled substances law defines marijuana as all parts of plants of the genus Cannabis, whether growing or not, and most derivatives or preparations of the plants (though it does not include, for instance, fiber produced from the stalks or oil made from the seeds of the plants). THC is currently placed in the most restrictive category of controlled substances: it may not be prescribed for medical use and may be manufactured and possessed only for particular purposes (such as research) under special permits.
This bill requires the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) to issue licenses that authorize the growing and processing of industrial hemp. Industrial hemp is defined as the plant Cannabis sativa with no more than 0.3 percent THC. The bill requires an applicant for a license to provide a legal description of the land on which industrial hemp will be grown or processed and to pay a fee for the license. It also requires DATCP to obtain a criminal history search from the Wisconsin Department of Justice for each applicant and prohibits DATCP from issuing a license to a person if the criminal history search shows the person has been convicted of violating the controlled substances law. The bill requires reporting by a person with an industrial hemp license, including reporting all sales of industrial hemp. The bill also requires DATCP to promulgate rules for the administration of the licensing law.
Read the full summary Show less
This bill creates an exemption from the controlled substances law for growing or processing industrial hemp in conformity with a license issued by DATCP.
Growing and possessing the plant Cannabis is also prohibited by federal law, except with a permit issued by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. This bill does not change federal law.
Who's behind it
5 representatives are its . 4 are Democrats and 1 is a Republican.
1 more lawmaker .
See all 6 names Hide the names
Authors (5)
- Terese Berceau · Democrat, Assembly
- Phil Garthwaite · Democrat, Assembly
- Mary Williams · Republican, Assembly
- Louis Molepske Jr. · Democrat, Assembly
- Amy Sue Vruwink · Democrat, Assembly
Signed on in support (1)
- Lena Taylor · Democrat, Senate
What it would cost
State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.
How lawmakers voted
There was one vote on this bill.
Assembly Committee on Agriculture vote to recommend it
Passed, 6 to 5 · Apr 20, 2010
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report passage recommended by committee on Agriculture, Ayes 6, Noes 5”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Apr 28, 2010
The session ended, and the bill died with it.
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Apr 20, 2010
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Apr 20, 2010
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 6 to 5.
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Mar 3, 2010
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Feb 24, 2010
The committee held a public hearing.
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Feb 11, 2010
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Agriculture.
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Feb 11, 2010
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Feb 11, 2010 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Molepske Jr., Garthwaite, Vruwink, M. Williams and Berceau;Cosponsored by Senator Taylor
- Feb 11, 2010 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Agriculture
- Feb 24, 2010 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- Mar 3, 2010 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Apr 19, 2010 · Assembly
Executive action taken
- Apr 20, 2010 · Assembly
Report passage recommended by committee on Agriculture, Ayes 6, Noes 5
- Apr 20, 2010 · Assembly
Referred to committee on Rules
- Apr 28, 2010 · Assembly
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. More in the glossary
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary
Author
A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate. More in the glossary
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary
From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote