A bill authored by State Rep. Lindee Rae Brill in the Wisconsin Assembly seeks to clarify the definition of hemp and outline new rules for regulating hemp-derived products, according to the Wisconsin State Assembly.
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature’s official website, the bill was described as follows: “the definition of hemp. (FE)”.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill amends the definition of hemp to specify it as Cannabis sativa L. with a total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration, including tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, of no more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis, thus altering what can be exempted from the state’s Controlled Substances Act. It includes industrial hemp used for its stalk, grains, or seed products and those used for research, microgreens, and other purposes. The bill explicitly excludes viable cannabis seeds exceeding this THC threshold and cannabinoid products synthesized outside the plant or marketed for similar effects as THC. Hemp-derived cannabinoid products are defined as those derived from hemp, excluding industrial hemp, intended for human or animal use and not including FDA-approved prescription drugs. The bill outlines rules for testing THC levels and allows reconditioning where THC levels exceed limits, setting penalties for non-compliance or misrepresentation.
The bill was co-authored by Sen. Chris Kapenga (Republican-33rd District), Rep. Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), Rep. Barbara Dittrich (Republican-99th District), Rep. Bob G. Donovan (Republican-61st District), and Rep. Rick Gundrum (Republican-58th District). It was co-sponsored by Sen. André Jacque (Republican-1st District), Sen. Steve Nass (Republican-11th District), and Sen. Van H. Wanggaard (Republican-21st District), along with three other co-sponsors.
Lindee Rae Brill has co-authored or authored another 109 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with one of them being enacted.
Brill graduated from Hope College in 2003 with a BA.
Brill, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2025 to represent the state’s 27th Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Amy Binsfeld.
In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| AB503 | 10/09/2025 | The definition of hemp. (FE) |
| AB460 | 09/26/2025 | Pupil eligibility for parental choice programs based upon participation by a sibling or a dependent child of the pupil’s parent or guardian. (FE) |
| AB421 | 09/15/2025 | Prohibiting rights of nature ordinances. (FE) |
| AB418 | 09/15/2025 | Visitation of a long-term care facility resident or hospital patient during a communicable disease outbreak |
| AB407 | 08/29/2025 | Reporting of sex and fetal anomaly following induced abortion |
| AB398 | 08/29/2025 | Including information about immunization waivers in enrollment or admission materials for schools, child care centers, and nursery schools |
| AB373 | 07/17/2025 | Creating a refundable individual income tax credit for the parent of a stillbirth and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| AB330 | 07/08/2025 | Enforcement of the federal Help America Vote Act |
| AB323 | 07/08/2025 | Ratification of the Cosmetology Licensure Compact. (FE) |
| AB311 | 06/06/2025 | Changing an individual’s sex on a birth certificate |
| AB281 | 05/30/2025 | The employment eligibility verification program and granting rule-making authority. (FE) |
| AB273 | 05/19/2025 | The membership of the Controlled Substances Board |
| AB210 | 04/23/2025 | Changes to amount of, and criteria for designating recipients of, academic excellence higher education scholarships. (FE) |
| AB177 | 04/15/2025 | Sales and use tax exemption for diapers and feminine hygiene products. (FE) |
| AB122 | 03/11/2025 | Alternative open enrollment application procedures for residency change based on military orders |
| AB87 | 02/28/2025 | Restitution orders following a conviction for human trafficking and restoration of the right to vote to a person barred from voting as a result of a felony conviction. (FE) |
| AB46 | 02/17/2025 | Flags flown at state and local government buildings and eliminating a related administrative rule |
| AB32 | 02/17/2025 | Access to public high schools for military recruiters |
