Wisconsin’s bipartisan hemp bill, which was rolled out at a May 6 Capitol press conference, has been formally introduced. Assembly Bill 215 has been assigned to the Committee on State Affairs and Government Operations. At the press conference, lead sponsor Rep. Dave Considine had expressed the hope the bill would go the Committee on Agriculture, of which he is a member.

AB215 is sponsored by a record 19 state representatives Considine, Danou, Kahl, Hesselbein, Pope, Milroy, Sargent, C. Taylor, Subeck, Goyke, Genrich, Sinicki, Quinn, Jorgensen, Kolste, Brostoff, Spreitzer, Ohnstad and Berceau. One is a Republican, Rep. Romaine Quinn (R-Rice Lake), giving AB215 bipartisan sponsorship. On the senate side, AB215 is sponsored by a record six state senators, all Democrats: Senators Vinehout, Miller, Harris Dodd, Ringhand and Erpenbach.

The number of cosponsors represents a big step up from the 2013-2014 session bill AB638, which garnered 12 assembly cosponsors and two from the senate.

It will be up to the chair of the Committee on State Affairs and Government Operations, Rep Rob Swearingen (R-Rhinelander) if AB215 receives a public hearing this session. With the session still young, hopefully that will happen.

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