A combined workgroup on hemp was established in the Florida House of Representatives, as multiple bills are anticipated on hemp regulation.
The Republican House Speaker wrote in a memo to Members of the Florida House of Representatives that the workgroup will focus on gaining knowledge related to hemp and the hemp industry. The workgroup will not consider legislation or specific policy proposals nor will it be a forum for generic public testimony, which are reserved for formal House committee meetings.
The workgroup’s goal will be to gain knowledge and understanding of the subject matter and, at the conclusion of its work, the workgroup will identify other information or resources that it believes would be beneficial to assist Members in working through this issue.
“We anticipate multiple bills will be filed on hemp regulation this Session and that there will be a great deal of activity by advocates on both sides of the issue,” House Speaker Daniel Perez wrote in a memo to Members. “In order to better arm you with information, and after consultation with the various chairs involved, we have created a Combined Workgroup on Hemp composed of members of the Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee and the Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee. This workgroup will have 24 members: 12 members from each subcommittee, who have been chosen by the subcommittee chairs. I have appointed Representative Michelle Salzman to serve as the Combined Workgroup Manager. It will last for a duration of seven days beginning on March 3, 2025.”
The House Speaker said “the workgroup’s exploration of this issue should be thorough and balanced.”
COMBINED WORKGROUP ON HEMP
The workgroup Republican and Democratic members are as follows:
Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee:
- Bruce Antone
- Yvette Benarroch
- Anna Eskamani
- Richard Gentry
- Mike Giallombardo
- Yvonne Hinson
- Vanessa Oliver
- Toby Overdorf
- Juan Porras
- Judson Sapp
- Leonard Spencer
- Brad Yeager
Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee:
- Shane Abbott
- Erika Booth
- Lindsay Cross
- Peggy Gossett-Seidman
- Gallop Franklin
- Jim Mooney
- Bill Partington
- Mike Redondo
- Felicia Robinson
- Michelle Salzman, Manager
- Chase Tramont
- Kaylee Tuck
“Because of the way this process sometimes works, and the tendency of lobbyists and advocates to insinuate secret meanings, let me be perfectly clear: there are no signals being sent,” Speaker Daniel Perez added. “House Leadership has not adopted any position on this issue nor are we laying the predicate to do so in the future. We are not endorsing any particular bill, position, industry, or perspective. How – or even whether – we proceed with legislation on this issue this Session will be determined by all of you. We hope this workgroup will be a useful start to a productive conversation.”
