Public Hearing Jan 8, 2026 for SB 682

Showdown Begins in Wisconsin Legislature as Competing Hemp Bills Head Toward Public Hearings

MADISON, WI — A key public hearing has now been scheduled in the Wisconsin State Senate for Senate Bill 682, the Testin/Kurtz hemp regulation bill. The hearing will take place January 8, 2026 at 10:00 a.m., with three other bills slated to be heard in committee before the hemp bill is considered.

Room change for the public hearing on hemp today!

Thursday, January 8, 2026
10:00 AM
201 SE (UPDATE: ROOM CHANGE TO 411 S)

SB 682, jointly authored by Senator Patrick Testin (R–Stevens Point) and Representative Tony Kurtz (R), aims to establish a legislative framework for hemp-derived cannabinoid products — defining key terms, testing and labeling requirements, age restrictions, and other regulatory elements. It was referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Revenue, which Testin chairs, which virtually assured that it will receive a hearing in the Senate and that will happen on January 8th, 2026.

Senate Committee on Agriculture and Revenue Review

This committee oversees critical policy affecting agriculture, business, and public health—fields closely tied to hemp and cannabis regulation. From your years tracking Wisconsin’s legislative mood, this group reflects the ongoing divide between cautious conservatives and pragmatic reformers.

Senator (R) Patrick Testin (Chair) in leadership position as President Pro Tempore – Once a medical cannabis supporter of bipartisan bills, Testin has drifted toward trying to only pass a bill withing the GOP Caucus, backing restrictive “medical marijuana” language in bills. As mentioned in the past, he has received a hemp hero award, was largely responsible for the 2025 hemp vape exemption and he is the main author of SB 682, the bill being heard in committee on January 8th, 2026.
Senator (R) Cory Tomczyk (Vice-Chair) – A newer voice, Tomczyk’s record is developing, but early signals show alignment with Testin’s cautious approach, but as a candidate before elected, he seemed more open to reform of medical marijuana. Tomczyk is a co-sponsor of the Three Tier Bill (SB 681). Tomczyk is up for re-election in 2026.
Senator (R) Howard Marklein – A fiscal conservative, historically resistant to cannabis reform. Marklein is up for re-election in 2026 and this seat is considered vulnerable.
Senator (R) Rachael Cabral-Guevara in leadership position as Majority Caucus Vice-Chair – A nurse by trade; supportive of ending prohibition, but will not author a bill based on a “campaign promise”. She has not co-sponsored either hemp regulation bill. “RCG” is up for re-election in 2026.
Senator (R) André Jacque – Longtime prohibitionist; a key supporter of banning intoxicating hemp and tightening hemp laws. He is a co-author of SB 499, the Wisconsin legislation to mimic the federal hemp ban. Jacque is up for re-election in 2026.
Senator (D) Brad Pfaff – Generally reform-friendly; supports regulated legalization and farm-level hemp opportunities. Was one of the last Democrats to endorse legalization. He is the a co-author of the Three Tier Bill SB 681 and the only Democrat to sign onto that legislation so far.
Senator (D) Mark Spreitzer in leadership position as Minority Caucus Chair – One of the Senate’s strongest pro-reform Democrats; consistent advocate for full legalization. Spreitzer is up for re-election in 2026.
Senator (D) Sarah Keyeski – New and largely untested; seen as a swing vote depending on district priorities. As a Democratic candidate in 2024 she was one of the most hesitant to say she supported legalization of marijuana, but eventually did. She told me that she does not support AB 606, undecided on AB 747 and my research indicated she did not co-sponsor the Democrats version.

But the political battle has already begun.

In the Wisconsin State Assembly, a competing hemp bill known as the “Three Tier” hemp regulatory proposal — primarily associated with Representative Rob Swearingen (R–Rhinelander) — has likewise been moving through the legislative process. That bill, Assembly Bill 606 / Senate Bill 681, proposes structuring hemp regulation under an alcohol-style three-tier system of growers, processors, and retailers. Swearingen has already held a public hearing on his bill in the Assembly’s Committee on State Affairs, which he chairs, along with a hearing on a related ban proposal — a stark contrast to SB 682’s current position.

The fact that each chamber has given a hearing to one bill but not the other has underscored the internal Republican divide over how Wisconsin should regulate hemp products — and set the stage for a late-session showdown. Despite SB 682 being scheduled in the Senate, Testin’s bill has not yet received a public hearing in the Assembly, and the Three Tier bill, despite its progress in the Assembly, will not been heard in the Senate.

Advocates and industry stakeholders are watching closely, with proponents of SB 682 arguing it offers a more balanced regulatory approach, while supporters of the Three Tier proposal contend stricter structures will bring clarity and oversight. With only weeks left in the 2025-26 legislative session, the coming hearings may well determine not just which bill moves forward — but the future regulatory landscape for Wisconsin’s hemp industry.

GOP Glitch in the system?

We have not even discussed if Speaker Vos and Majority Leader Tyler will allow any floor vote on any bills should they pass out of committee. With 54 Republican Assembly Representatives total and Speaker Robin Vos signaling he will need 50 Republicans to support a bill before brining it to a floor vote is a mathematical problem with two solutions, which is, the authors or co-sponsors of bill to ban hemp, AB 503, are going to have to come over and support one of these other bills or the Republicans are going to need some Democratic votes to get any positive hemp bill over the finish line.

Republican Assembly Representatives co-sponsoring AB 503, bill to ban hemp are: Representatives Brill, Piwowarczyk, Wichgers, Donovan, Behnke, Dittrich, Gundrum, Maxey, O’Connor and Murphy (well maybe Murhpy – as he also co-sponsored AB 747); and Senators Kapenga, Wanggaard, Jacque and Nass.