WA Legislature - Update
(April 24, 2025)

The cannabis retail advertising and financial interest bills were delivered to the Governor as legislators continued working their way towards the end of the regular session.

Here are some observations of the Washington State Legislature (WA Legislature) for Thursday April 24th, the 102nd day of the 2025 regular session.

My top 3 takeaways:

• The two remaining cannabis-related bills were delivered to the Washington State Office of the Governor (WA Governor) on Wednesday, who would have until Tuesday May 20th to consider taking action on the legislation.
  • SB 5206 - Cannabis Retailer Advertising
  • SB 5403 - Cannabis Retail Financial Interest
    • Wednesday was the 101st day of the 105-day 2025 Regular Session and according to the WA Governor Bill Action FAQs:
      • “Bills that are delivered to the governor more than five days before the Legislature adjourns have five days to be acted on. Bills that are delivered fewer than five days before the Legislature adjourns have 20 days to be acted on by the governor.”
      • Additionally, “Both are counted as calendar days, not business days. Sundays are not counted, but Saturdays and state holidays are counted.”
    • Accordingly, Governor Bob Ferguson would have a longer period of time—until Tuesday May 20th—to consider taking action to either sign or veto the legislation.

• There were no introductions of cannabis-related legislation on Wednesday, and none staged for Thursday.
  • There were no introductions staged in the Senate for Thursday April 24th.
  • The draft introduction report in the House for Thursday April 24th 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, although all cannabis-related bills which could be moved under the regular rules of order had been acted upon.
  • 9:30am: WA House - Session
    • [ TVW - Morning, TVW - Afternoon, TVW - Evening ]
    • After again convening past midnight, representatives opted to push their planned start time back 30m.
    • At publication time, there were 34 bills on the House floor calendar but no cannabis-related legislation.
  • 10am: WA Senate - Session
    • [ TVW - Morning, TVW - Afternoon, TVW - Evening ]
    • At publication time, there were 13 bills on the Senate floor calendar including one cannabis-related item.
      • HB 1551 - Social Equity Program Evaluation
        • See the bill text, bill report, and fiscal note for more details.
        • Presumed ineligible for consideration after the Opposite House Cutoff on Wednesday, the legislation remained calendared at publication time along with nine other House bills which were not acted upon.