The Washington State Senate Labor and Commerce Committee (WA Senate LBRC) considers issues relating to employment standards, industrial insurance, unemployment insurance and collective bargaining. The committee also considers regulation of business and professions and has oversight of commerce issues relating to alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and gaming.
WA Senate LBRC - Committee Meeting
(March 28, 2019)
- USA - Washington
- Washington State Senate Labor and Commerce Committee (WA Senate LBRC)
- WA Senate LBRC - Committee Meeting
Thursday March 28, 2019 8:30 AM
Observed

Observations
On Thursday March 28th, the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee hosted an executive session for HB 1794, “Concerning agreements between licensed marijuana businesses and other people and businesses, including royalty and licensing agreements relating to the use of intellectual property.”
- See details on the HB 1794's House policy committee public hearing and executive session. Engrossed Substitute HB 1794 (ESHB 1794) was passed by the full House on March 7th with one amendment. On March 19th, the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee hosted a public hearing for the bill.
- Senior Committee Counsel Richard Rogers informed the committee no amendments were put forward (audio – 4m, video).
- The bill was passed without discussion by voice vote and was referred to the Senate Rules Committee with a “do pass” recommendation (audio – 1m, video).
On Thursday March 28th, the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee hosted an executive session for HB 2052, “Clarifying marijuana product testing by revising provisions concerning marijuana testing laboratory accreditation and establishing a cannabis science task force.”
- See details on the HB 2052's House policy committee public hearing and executive session, and the House fiscal committee public hearing and executive session. HB 2052 was passed by the full House on March 6th without amendments. On March 19th, the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee hosted a public hearing for the bill.
- Rogers briefed on 2052 AMS LBRC S3091.2, a striking amendment from Committee Chair Karen Keiser, which proposed six substantive changes to the bill (audio – 2m, video):
- (1) Requires that the state marijuana product testing laboratory accreditation program initial development costs must be fully paid from the dedicated marijuana account.
- (2) Changes the date of the transfer of the accreditation program to the Department of Ecology to July 1, 2024.
- (3) Limits the initial scope of the Cannabis Science Task Force to pesticides in plants for laboratory quality standards for the 7/1/20 report to legislature.
- (4) Requires the Cannabis Science Task Force to recommend regulatory changes each agency should make to implement the pesticide lab quality standards. The recommendations are included in the 7/1/20 report to legislature.
- (5) Directs the Cannabis Science Task Force to submit a report to the legislature by 12/1/21 on the recommendations for laboratory quality standards for heavy metals and potency, at a minimum.
- (6) Allows the Liquor and Cannabis Board to initiate rule making to address the findings and recommendations in the task force reports, as the Department of Ecology does not take over accreditation until 2024.
- Keiser told members HB 2052 was “incredibly important to public health” and said legislators had worked with stakeholders to find an agreed-upon process for pesticide and eventually heavy metals testing of cannabis products. She urged passage to “help our confidence and our public health.” Ranking Member Curtis King seconded Keiser’s views (audio – 2m, video).
- The bill was passed by unanimous voice vote and referred to the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
Documents and Links
- Agenda
- Complete Audio (MP3)
- Complete Video (TVW)
- Complete Video (MP4)
- HB 1794 – “Concerning agreements between licensed marijuana businesses and other people and businesses, including royalty and licensing agreements relating to the use of intellectual property.” (Do Pass)
- Original Bill Text (Jan 31, 2019)
- WSLCB Bill Analysis – Enforcement (Feb 5, 2019)
- Fiscal Note – WSLCB (Feb 6, 2019)
- House Bill Analysis (Feb 7, 2019)
- Public Hearing – House Commerce and Gaming Committee (Feb 7, 2019)
- Executive Session – House Commerce and Gaming Committee (Feb 14, 2019)
- Amendment 1794 AMH COG CLOD 015 (Adopted)
- Engrossed Substitute Bill Text (Feb 18, 2019)
- House Background Summary (Mar 7, 2019)
- Senate Bill Report (Mar 13, 2019)
- Public Hearing – Senate Labor and Commerce Committee (Mar 19, 2019)
- HB 2052 – “Clarifying marijuana product testing by revising provisions concerning marijuana testing laboratory accreditation and establishing a cannabis science task force.” (Do Pass)
- Original Bill Text (Feb 14, 2019)
- House Bill Analysis (Feb 18, 2019)
- Public Hearing – House Commerce and Gaming Committee (Feb 18, 2019)
- Executive Session – House Commerce and Gaming Committee (Feb 19, 2019)
- House Bill Report (Feb 19, 2019)
- Preliminary Fiscal Note 1 (OAG, WSLCB, DOH, WSDA) (Feb 27, 2019)
- Preliminary Fiscal Note 2 (OAG, WSLCB, DOE, WSDA) (Feb 27, 2019)
- Public Hearing – House Appropriations Committee (Feb 27, 2019)
- Executive Session – House Appropriations Committee (Feb 28, 2019)
- House Background Summary (Mar 6, 2019)
- Senate Bill Report (Mar 14, 2019)
- Public Hearing – Senate Labor and Commerce Committee (Mar 19, 2019)
- Amendment 2052 AMS LBRC S3091.2 (Adopted)
- HB 1094 – “Establishing compassionate care renewals for medical marijuana qualifying patients.” (Do Pass)
- Original Bill Text
- Fiscal Note (Jan 21, 2019)
- House Bill Analysis (Jan 25, 2019)
- Public Hearing – House Health Care and Wellness Committee (Jan 25, 2019)
- Executive Session – House Health Care and Wellness Committee (Feb 1, 2019)
- Substitute Bill Text
- House Bill Report (Feb 1, 2019)
- Passed by House (Mar 12, 2019)
- Amendment 1094-S AMH CODY BLAC 039 (Adopted)
- Engrossed Substitute Bill Text
- House Background Summary (Mar 14, 2019)
- Senate Bill Report (Mar 25, 2019)
- Amendment 1094-S.E AMS LBRC S3267.1 (Adopted)