WA House COG - Committee Meeting
(March 25, 2021) - SB 5372 - Executive Session

Hemp Field
[ Event Details ]

There was no opposition from committee members to recommending a bill which would establish a voluntary hemp processor registration, a hemp extract certification, and limited authority for WSLCB to test hemp.

Here are some observations from the Thursday March 25th Washington State House Commerce and Gaming Committee (WA House COG) meeting.

My top 2 takeaways:

  • SB 5372 ("Concerning hemp processor registration and a hemp extract certification”) was presented during a policy committee executive session.
    • SB 5372 was amended and passed by the Washington State Senate (WA Senate) on March 9th. WA House COG hosted a public hearing on the legislation on March 19th.
    • WA House COG Counsel Kyle Raymond refreshed the committee on the bill’s effects, stating that “this is the bill that allows hemp processors to register with the [Washington State] Department of Agriculture” (WSDA). He told lawmakers the bill would “allow hemp processors to obtain a hemp extract certification from” WSDA to ensure exports “to other states for use as a food ingredient complies with Washington inspection and sanitation requirements” (audio - 1m, video).
    • The bill fiscal note projected:
      • One-time costs for the WSLCB of $18,000
      • Expenditures for WSDA of $197,200 for the first biennium and $154,800 in subsequent biennia.
      • Revenue generated for WSDA was reported to be “indeterminate at this time.” Staff projected the cost of extract certification would be $4,000 annually, as compared to the $1,200 annual fee for a hemp production license and $1,281 for a cannabis license.
  • Committee members unanimously agreed to recommend passage of the bill without modification.
    • Vice Chair Emily Wicks made a motion to approve the legislation “with a due pass recommendation” and confirmed there were no amendments to consider (audio - 1m, video).
    • Chair Shelley Kloba took a moment to call for passage of the bill, saying it was “a bill that will really be good for our small business, and well, businesses of any size who are in the hemp business.” She said the bill would provide hemp processors “certification, registration, you know, authority that they need to access markets outside of the state.” Kloba added that she wanted to support the ability to “sell fabulous Washington agricultural products anywhere in the world” (audio - 1m, video).
    • Assistant Ranking Minority Member Kelly Chambers threw her support behind the bill as “Washington grows a lot of things really well, including hemp” and she believed hemp businesses in the state should have the option to export their crop (audio - <1m, video).
    • WA House COG members voted unanimously to recommend the bill’s passage (audio - 2m, video).
    • The bill was sent to the Washington State House Appropriations Committee (WA House APP), however, the Washington State House Rules Committee (WA House RUL) “relieved the committee of further consideration.” As a result, no fiscal committee considered the bill as amended on the Senate floor.
    • To avoid the opposite house cutoff, the bill needed to be scheduled for floor action in the WA House before Sunday April 11th at 5pm - and was considered by representatives on Tuesday April 6th.

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