(1) An applicant for a hemp producer license must:

(a) Provide the information required for a hemp producer license on a form provided by the department that at a minimum includes the following:

(i) The name and business address of the applicant;

(ii) For corporate applicants, the type of business entity, such as corporation, LLC, or partnership, the state or country where the business is incorporated, and the name and address of the entity's agent in Washington state;

(iii) The legal description (section, township, and range) in which any proposed registered land area is located; and

(iv) Geospatial location coordinates of any proposed field, greenhouse, or other site where hemp is produced.

(b) Apply to the department for participation in the program between January 1st and March 31st. Applications may be received after March 31st but will remain subject to the same expiration date;

(c) Pay fees as required under this chapter;

(d) Consent to entrance of their property by the department to inspect their registered land area with or without prior notice; and

(e) Report hemp crop acreage to USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA). A link to FSA information on how to report hemp crop acreage to FSA is available on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) hemp production program website.

(2) Licenses will expire on the last day of April following the year the license is issued.

(3) All applications must be accompanied by a criminal history report completed within 60 days of the application date. If the application is for a business entity, a completed criminal history report must be provided for each key participant.

(a) The criminal history report must indicate the applicant has not been convicted of a state or federal felony related to a controlled substance for the 10 years prior to the date of when the report was completed. An exception applies to a person who was lawfully growing hemp under the 2014 Farm Bill before December 20, 2018, and whose conviction also occurred before that date.

(b) A person with a prior felony related to controlled substances within 10 years of applying for a producer license is not eligible for the license. Key participants of associations, corporations, and other business entities with a prior felony related to a controlled substance within 10 years of applying for a producer license are not eligible for the license under this felony drug conviction limitation. Business entities may still be eligible if the key participant with a prior felony is discharged.

(4) Any person who materially falsifies information in the application shall be ineligible to participate in the program.