House Bill 1140

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE, ACTING THROUGH THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE, AND THE MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO ADHERE TO STATUTORY PROVISIONS CONCERNING SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISES AND MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISES IN ADMINISTERING ANY PROGRAM MONITORING AND REGULATING THE GROWTH, PRODUCTION, PROCESSING AND TRANSPORTATION OF HEMP WITHIN THE STATE FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. After any such time that the State of Mississippi submits a state plan to the United States Department of Agriculture for approval by the Secretary of Agriculture to authorize the state to monitor and regulate the growth, production, processing and transportation of hemp within the state, the Department of Agriculture and Commerce, acting through the Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, and the Mississippi Development Authority shall ensure that, in the administration of the state plan, the agencies shall adhere to the provisions of Chapter 69, Title 57, Mississippi Code of 1972, which establishes the Mississippi Minority Business Enterprise Act, Section 69-2-13, which provides for a system of various loans and grants under the Emerging Crops Fund Program, and Section 31-7-13(3), which is the minority set aside authorization under the public purchasing law, to provide equity to small business enterprises and minority business enterprises that seek to be engaged in the growth, production, processing or transportation of hemp as authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill. The subsequent passage of any legislation granting regulatory authority to the Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce and the Department of Agriculture and Commerce upon approval of a state plan for the growth, production, processing and transportation of hemp, shall provide for the inclusion of small business enterprises and minority business enterprises in such commercial practices concerning hemp.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2020.