WA Legislature - Update
(April 17, 2025)

The cannabis retail advertising bill was advanced prior to cutoff but two other bills fell short, the patient data sharing bill was signed by the Governor, and two WSLCB appointees were confirmed.

Here are some observations of the Washington State Legislature (WA Legislature) for Thursday April 17th, the 95th day of the 2025 regular session.

My top 6 takeaways:

• On Wednesday, the Washington State House of Representatives (WA House) pulled the cannabis retail advertising bill out of the rules committee, rejected an amendment from a conservative Democrat, and passed the legislation in the span of eight minutes.
  • SB 5206 - Cannabis Retailer Advertising
    • In the late morning on Wednesday, amendment CLOD 406 by Deputy Majority Whip Mari Leavitt was published and described as having the following effects:
      • “Specifies that each ‘Adopt-a-Highway’ sign under a current valid sponsorship with the Washington State Department of Transportation is counted towards one of the licensed cannabis retailer's four cannabis-related advertising signs otherwise allowed on the licensed premises.”
    • Returning from caucus in the early afternoon, Assistant Speaker Pro Tempore Joe Timmons pulled SB 5206 and one other bill from the Washington State House Rules Committee (WA House RUL) positioning the legislation for floor activity.
    • Immediately thereafter, the bill was brought up for its second reading and the new amendment was considered.
      • Leavitt explained, “we know, and have seen the data that spells out that cannabis has a significant effect on youths’ behavioral health.  And we’ve seen the increase in the challenges that our youth are having in behavioral health.”  She aimed to count the ‘Adopt-a-Highway’ signs against retailer totals “in order to not glamorize and expand signage that promotes cannabis” (audio - 1m, video - TVW).
        • At publication time, Leavitt represented State District 28 (Steilacoom, Lakewood, DuPont).  On March 10th, she joined a small, strange cadre of Republican extremists in voting against passage of HB 1341 (DOH Patient Data Sharing).
      • Representative Amy Walen, a Democrat and the Chair of the Washington State House Consumer Protection and Business Committee (WA House CPB) who had helped bring stakeholders together to craft the version of SB 5206 before the chamber, took exception to the proposed amendment and asked her colleagues to vote against it (audio - 1m, video - TVW).
      • Minority Caucus Vice Chair Stephanie McClintock, the Ranking Minority Member of WA House CPB, seemed more amenable to the change but agreed with Walen that the legislative compromise brokered in committee should not be further changed (audio < 1m, video - TVW).
      • The amendment was not adopted in a voice vote.
    • Following supportive remarks from McClintock and Representative Shelley Kloba along with sour grapes from Representative Tom Dent, the chamber passed the legislation 72-23-0-3 in an unusually mixed vote.  Four Democrats voted against the legislation whereas Republican representatives were perfectly split in support or opposition to the bill.  The following legislators voted against passage:
      • Representative Hunter Abell (R-7)
      • Representative Stephanie Barnard (R-8)
      • Representative Steve Bergquist (D-11)
      • Representative Michelle Caldier (R-26)
      • Representative Lauren Davis (D-32)
      • Representative Tom Dent (R-13)
      • Representative Jeremie Dufault (R-15)
      • Representative Mary Dye (R-9)
      • Representative Andrew Engell (R-7)
      • Representative Carolyn Eslick (R-39)
      • Representative Cyndy Jacobsen (R-25)
      • Representative Michael Keaton (R-25)
      • Representative Mark Klicker (R-16)
      • Representative Mari Leavitt (D-28)
      • Representative Deb Manjarrez (R-14)
      • Representative Joel McEntire (R-19)
      • Representative Ed Orcutt (R-20)
      • Representative Joshua Penner (R-31)
      • Representative Gerry Pollet (D-46)
      • Representative Adison Richards (D-26)
      • Representative David Stuebe (R-17)
      • Washington State Republican Party Chair Jim Walsh (R-19)
      • Representative Alex Ybarra (R-13)

• Also on Wednesday, Governor Bob Ferguson signed the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) request legislation granting the agency constrained access to patient data collected by the Washington State Department of Health (DOH).
  • HB 1341 - DOH Patient Data Sharing
    • See the bill text, bill report, and fiscal note for more details.
    • On Friday April 4th, the bill was passed 48-1 with Senator Leonard Christian upholding his commitment to never vote in support of a cannabis-related bill (video - TVW).  It was the first cannabis-related bill passed by the Legislature in 2025.
    • During the signing, Ferguson emphasized how the legislation would enable data sharing between DOH and the WSLCB to help ensure only registered patients who were entitled to the excise tax exemption were the ones taking advantage of the relief (video - TVW).
    • Following signature, the legislation would be referred to the Washington State Secretary of State (WA SOS) for encoding within the Revised Code of Washington (RCW).
    • As an effective date was not specified in the legislation, the language would become law 90 days after adjournment sine die on July 27th.

• Also on Wednesday, the Washington State Senate (WA Senate) confirmed the gubernatorial appointments of Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) Chair Jim Vollendroff and Board Member Pete Holmes.
  • SGA 9188 - Confirmation - Jim Vollendroff
    • Vollendroff’s appointment confirmation had been calendared just the day before,
    • It was unusual for confirmations to be controversial or even to elicit more than one or two remarks from senators.  After Senator Rebecca Saldaña offered measured compliments about Vollendroff, Senator Mark Schoesler called him out as "not the change agent" needed at the WSLCB, indicating some of his colleagues wanted to see structural transformation or even bifurcation of the agency.  Senator Marko Liias rose in defense of Vollendroff, highlighting his response to WSLCB Enforcement involvement in inappropriate policing of LGBTQ+ establishments in early 2024.  And Senator Jesse Salomon jumped up to praise Vollendroff as "one of the most thoughtful people in Olympia."
      • In 2024, Salomon prime sponsored SB 6220, the Senate companion to HB 2320, “Concerning high THC cannabis products.”
    • Senators voted to confirm Vollendroff’s appointment 30-18-0-1 in a largely partisan vote with one Democrat excused and Republican Deputy Leader Drew MacEwen crossing ranks to vote for the Chair.
  • SGA 9203 - Confirmation - Pete Holmes
    • Schoesler also spoke against Holmes, emphasizing how "the first words out of the man's mouth” during his confirmation hearing was a mistaken slip about serving the people of Seattle rather than all of Washington state - which Schoesler also immediately jumped on in committee.  Schoesler attempted to further impugn Holmes’ character, expressing doubt that he would promote enforcement of State law regarding regulated substances.
      • On August 31st, Schoesler was arrested at a rodeo on suspicion of driving under the influence after backing into two parked cars and failing a field sobriety test.  He was later found to have a blood alcohol content of 0.14, nearly twice the legal limit.  Schoesler pleaded not guilty in a court of law but the judge found probable cause to summon him to another hearing on October 8th.
      • At publication time, Cannabis Observer was not able to identify any media coverage of the second hearing nor any indications of censure of Schoesler who remained assigned as a member of the Washington State Senate Labor and Commerce Committee (WA Senate LC) with jurisdiction over the WSLCB.
    • Senators voted to confirm Holmes’ appointment 30-19 in a strictly partisan vote.

• Two cannabis-related bills were not advanced prior to the Opposite House Cutoff on Wednesday at 5pm PT.
  • To continue being advanced, legislation assigned to the opposite chamber had to be calendared, added to an order of consideration, potentially amended, debated, and passed before the cutoff.
    • There are exceptions.  Legislation can be designated “necessary to implement budgets” (NTIB) by chamber leaders to exempt it from the regular rules of order, loosely interpreted to mean a bill was projected to have a measurable fiscal impact.
  • Two cannabis-related bills were not advanced through the gateway:
    • HB 1347 - WSLCB Lab Certification Authority
      • See the bill text, bill report, and fiscal note for more details.
      • On Tuesday afternoon, amendment S-3157.1 by Senator Rebecca Saldaña was published and described as having the following effects:
        • “Restricts LCB's authority over testing laboratories to establishing requirements for the reporting of mandatory quality assurance test results; exercising oversight to prevent a certified laboratory from holding any direct or indirect financial interest in a licensed cannabis producer or processor; a laboratory's possession, transportation, or delivery of cannabis; and investigating fraudulent conduct, including the falsification or manipulation of test results, misrepresentation of data, or submission of false information to the board or the public.”
    • HB 1551 - Social Equity Program Evaluation
      • See the bill text, bill report, and fiscal note for more details.
      • On Friday April 11th, striking amendment S-2845.1 by Senator Rebecca Saldaña was published which appeared to keep the bill largely as written with the addition of the following effect:
        • “Prohibits a city, town, or county from requiring a cannabis retailer licensed through the Cannabis Social Equity Program to locate more than 250 feet from the premises of any other licensed cannabis retailer.”
        • The language was identical to the text of SB 5758 (Social Equity Buffer Zones), a Saldaña bill which was not advanced by the WA House CPB prior to the Opposite House Policy Committee Cutoff.
      • In the early hours on Wednesday morning, amendment S-3160.1 by Senator Curtis King was published which would modify Saldaña’s striker to the following effect:
        • “Removes the extension of the expiration date for the cannabis social equity program from July 1, 2032, to July 1, 2034.”
      • On Wednesday morning, Saldaña pulled her previous striker and published striking amendment LLAN 037 which incorporated King’s amendment and substantially trimmed the bill.  She again revised the bill in the early afternoon as time was running out, publishing striking amendment S-3199.1 which appeared largely the same save the revision of the bill title.  Both were described as having the following effects:
        • “Removes the extension of the expiration date for the cannabis social equity program from July 1, 2032, to July 1, 2034.
        • “Requires LCB to, by November 7, 2025, summarize findings relating to evaluating the cannabis social equity program, rather than evaluating the program by December 1, 2025.
        • “Strikes the requirement for LCB to provide opportunities for public comment on the program.
        • “Requires the evaluation to include a summary of any surveys related to the social equity in cannabis program conducted by LCB's research program, rather than a review of feedback received by LCB in public comments.
        • “Strikes the requirement for the evaluation to include an examination of the awarding of grants and provision of mentorship under specified law.
        • “Strikes the requirement for the evaluation to include the identification of any economic, market, or practical factors that effectively prevent or hinder the successful opening, operation, and business success of businesses licensed under the program.
        • “Strikes the requirement for the evaluation to include an examination of the impact of laws and rules on cannabis licensees in the program with respect to restrictions on the transfer or assumption of a license issued through the program other than to individuals or groups who comply with the requirements for initial licensure as a social equity applicant for a period of at least five years from the date of initial licensure.”
      • The legislation was not added to an order of consideration on Wednesday and presumably became inactive.  At publication time, the bill remained on the Senate floor calendar and would likely be returned to the Washington State Senate Rules Committee (WA Senate RULE).
  • After Wednesday, legislators would take up legislation during floor sessions before adjournment sine die on Sunday April 27th.
    • The schedules for the following week in the House and the Senate were published on Wednesday evening, indicating an expectation of continued fiscal and transportation committee activity as legislators rushed to implement a significantly revised taxation plan.

• There were no introductions of cannabis-related legislation on Wednesday, and none staged for Thursday.
  • There were no introductions planned in the Senate for Thursday April 17th.
  • The draft introduction report in the House for Thursday April 17th did not appear to include any cannabis-related legislation.

• On Thursday, legislators planned to convene floor sessions in advance of adjournment sine die on Sunday April 27th.
  • 10am: WA Senate - Session
    • [ TVW - Morning, TVW - Afternoon, TVW - Evening ]
    • At publication time, 96 bills remained on the Senate floor calendar including HB 1551, but the listing would likely be revised on Thursday.
      • Senators did not consider 11 bills which had been calendared prior to the cutoff.
    • At publication time, there were 66 bills on the Senate concurrence calendar including one cannabis-related item.
      • SB 5403 - Cannabis Retail Financial Interest
        • See the bill text, bill report, and previous fiscal note for more details.
        • On Friday April 11th, the Washington State House of Representatives (WA House) amended and passed SB 5403 to clarify the scope of allowable management agreements and returned the legislation to the Senate for a concurrence, dispute, or conference vote.
  • 10:30am: WA House - Session
    • [ TVW - Morning, TVW - Afternoon, TVW - Evening ]
    • At publication time, there were 51 bills on the House floor calendar but no cannabis-related legislation.