Assembly Bill 638
Growing and processing industrial hemp, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)
Stopped in committee
It never got a , so it never came up for a vote. To try again, a lawmaker would have to start a new bill.
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Introduced, passed
Jan 21, 2014
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Committee, stopped here
Stopped here. No public hearing was held.
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Assembly vote, not reached
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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 8, 2014: “Failed to pass pursuant to ”
It never got a hearing in the Assembly Committee on Consumer Protection. See every bill that never got a hearing this session.
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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.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
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 state 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
12 lawmakers are its . All 12 are Democrats.
2 more lawmakers .
See all 14 names Hide the names
Authors (12)
- Janet Bewley · Democrat, Senate
- Chris Taylor · Democrat, Assembly
- Evan Goyke · Democrat, Assembly
- Gary Hebl · Democrat, Assembly
- Brett Hulsey · Democrat, Assembly
- Robb Kahl · Democrat, Assembly
- Nick Milroy · Democrat, Assembly
- Tod Ohnstad · Democrat, Assembly
- Melissa Sargent · Democrat, Assembly
- Katrina Shankland · Democrat, Assembly
- Amy Sue Vruwink · Democrat, Assembly
- Mandy Wright · Democrat, Assembly
Signed on in support (2)
- Dale Schultz · Republican, Senate
- Kathleen Vinehout · Democrat, Senate
What it would cost
State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.
Versions and amendments
Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.
How lawmakers voted
There was one vote on this bill. Taking a bill up right away needs two-thirds of the members, a higher bar than passing it, so that vote can draw more yeses than the final one.
Assembly vote to take it up right away
Failed, 37 to 54 · Mar 20, 2014
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Refused to suspend rules to withdraw from committee on Consumer Protection and take up, Ayes 37, Noes 54”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Apr 8, 2014
The session ended, and the bill died with it.
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Feb 3, 2014
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Jan 31, 2014
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Jan 21, 2014
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Consumer Protection.
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Jan 21, 2014
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Jan 21, 2014 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Vruwink, C. Taylor, Sargent, Milroy, Bewley, Goyke, Hulsey, Hebl, Wright, Kahl, Ohnstad and Shankland; cosponsored by Senators Vinehout and Schultz
- Jan 21, 2014 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to Committee on Consumer Protection
- Jan 31, 2014 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Feb 3, 2014 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Mar 14, 2014 · Assembly
Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Vruwink
- Mar 20, 2014 · Assembly
Refused to suspend rules to withdraw from committee on Consumer Protection and take up, Ayes 37, Noes 54
- Apr 8, 2014 · 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.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
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.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
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