The hearing on production unions revealed complicated power dynamics around the legislation and four new cannabis-related bills were ready for introduction including out of state ownership and ESOPs.
Here are some observations of the Washington State Legislature (WA Legislature) for Thursday January 16th, the 4th day of the 2025 regular session.
My top 4 takeaways:
- On Wednesday, the Washington State House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee (WA House LAWS) hosted an interesting public hearing on legislation to enable plant-touching producer employees to organize and choose union representation.
- HB 1141 - Cannabis Production Unions
- During the public hearing, the bill to permit collective bargaining by cannabis agricultural workers was supported by claims it may help worker conditions, but opposed by those who felt the cannabis sector was singled out.
- Committee Sign In (Testifying + Not Testifying - duplicates = Total)
- Pro: 8 + 185 - 6 = 187
- Con: 4 + 190 - 2 = 192
- Other: 1 + 0 - 0 = 1
- HB 1141 - Cannabis Production Unions
- Introductions of legislation went as planned on Wednesday and four new cannabis-related bills were staged for Thursday, including several perennial contenders.
- HB 1315 - “Concerning impaired driving.”
- Alcohol BAC Limit and DUI
- On Wednesday, Representative Brandy Donaghy’s House companion to SB 5067, Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) request legislation to lower the BAC limit, was introduced as planned and referred to the Washington State House Community Safety Committee (WA House CS).
- By the end of the day, five new co-sponsors had signed on including the Chair of WA House CS, Representative Roger Goodman, and the bill was scheduled for its initial public hearing on Tuesday January 21st.
- SB 5290 - “Allowing persons who complete substance abuse programs to seek dismissal of certain controlled substance related charges.”
- Pre-Hearing SUD Treatment
- Legislation by Senators Manka Dhingra and Jesse Salomon on incentives to pursue treatment for dismissal of certain drug possession charges was introduced as planned on Wednesday and referred to the Washington State Senate Law and Justice Committee (WA Senate LAW). At publication time, the bill had not been scheduled for a public hearing.
- By day’s end, four new co-sponsors had signed on: Nobles, Saldaña, Trudeau, Valdez.
- HB 1341 - “Concerning the medical cannabis authorization database.”
- DOH Patient Data Sharing
- Prime sponsor Representative Sharon Wylie planned to introduce the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) request legislation to authorize access to patient data secured by the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) for the purpose of validating retail excise tax exemptions.
- According to the draft introduction report, the bill would be referred to the Washington State House Consumer Protection and Business Committee (WA House CPB).
- HB 1346 - “Removing cannabis industry barriers.”
- Out of State Ownership
- Representative David Hackney, WA House CPB Vice Chair, would be joined by three other co-sponsors, including committee Chair Amy Walen and member Kristine Reeves, to reintroduce legislation seeking to lift requirements which limit ownership of Washington cannabis business licenses to state residents and allegedly diminish the influx of capital from out of state investors.
- According to the draft introduction report, the bill would be referred to the WA House CPB.
- HB 1347 - “Concerning cannabis testing laboratories.”
- Clarifying WSLCB Certification Authority
- Reeves was joined by Representative Chris Corry on legislation intended to address any lingering ambiguity about the difference between WSDA accreditation of private cannabis testing labs and subsequent WSLCB certification of those same labs.
- According to the draft introduction report, the bill would be referred to the WA House CPB.
- HB 1348 - “Concerning employee ownership of licensed cannabis businesses.”
- Cannabis ESOPs
- Representative Hackney also planned to carry legislation regarding employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) specific to the cannabis sector, clarifying legislation sought by the Washington CannaBusiness Association (WACA) after WSLCB staff withdrew the ESOPs rulemaking project in December.
- According to the draft introduction report, the bill would be referred to the WA House CPB.
- HB 1315 - “Concerning impaired driving.”
- Late on Wednesday, legislative staff released the preliminary committee schedule for the upcoming week which included executive sessions on three cannabis-related bills in the House but still no activity in the Senate.
- Tuesday January 21st
- 1:30pm: WA House CPB - Committee Meeting [ Event Details ]
- Executive Session
- HB 1066 - WSLCB Data Dashboard
- Executive Session
- 4pm: WA House CS - Committee Meeting [ Event Details ]
- Public Hearing
- HB 1315 - Alcohol BAC Limit and DUI
- Public Hearing
- 1:30pm: WA House CPB - Committee Meeting [ Event Details ]
- Wednesday January 22nd
- 8am: WA House LAWS - Committee Meeting [ Event Details ]
- Executive Session
- HB 1141 - Cannabis Production Unions
- Executive Session
- 1:30pm: WA House CPB - Committee Meeting [ Event Details ]
- Executive Session
- HB 1067 - Cannabis Production Authority Transfer
- Executive Session
- 8am: WA House LAWS - Committee Meeting [ Event Details ]
- The Washington State Senate (WA Senate) legislative schedule for next week was also published but neither SB 5206 (Cannabis Retailer Advertising) nor SB 5290 (Pre-Hearing SUD Treatment) were granted public hearings.
- Tuesday January 21st
- On Thursday, the DUI bill was scheduled to receive an executive session in the Washington State Senate Law and Justice Committee (WA Senate LAW).
- 10:30am: WA Senate LAW - Committee Meeting [ Event Details ]
- Executive Session
- SB 5067 - Alcohol BAC Limit and DUI
- Senator Phil Fortunato filed a proposed substitute for SB 5067 which would retain the lowered BAC level while adding a new penalty tier at the 0.10 threshold and lowering the next penalty tier from 0.15 to 0.12. During the public hearing, he suggested enhancing penalties on more intoxicated drivers and repeat offenders, rather than criminalizing less intoxicated drivers
- Testifiers noted drivers who test at 0.5 BAC were twice as likely to be in an accident as sober drivers.
- The WA Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC), which requested this bill, begins their quarterly meeting at 10am on Thursday.
- Senator Phil Fortunato filed a proposed substitute for SB 5067 which would retain the lowered BAC level while adding a new penalty tier at the 0.10 threshold and lowering the next penalty tier from 0.15 to 0.12. During the public hearing, he suggested enhancing penalties on more intoxicated drivers and repeat offenders, rather than criminalizing less intoxicated drivers
- SB 5067 - Alcohol BAC Limit and DUI
- Executive Session
- 10:30am: WA Senate LAW - Committee Meeting [ Event Details ]