Legislators advanced production unions in the House but deferred a production authority transfer before the schedule for the following week and details on four new cannabis-related bills were published.
Here are some observations of the Washington State Legislature (WA Legislature) for Thursday January 23rd, the 11th day of the 2025 regular session.
My top 5 takeaways:
- On Wednesday morning, the Washington State House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee (WA House LAWS) advanced legislation to extend collective bargaining rights to plant-touching employees of cannabis producers after adopting the prime sponsor’s substitute language.
- HB 1141 - Cannabis Production Unions
- During the public hearing on Wednesday January 15th, the bill to enable cannabis agricultural workers to unionize was supported by claims it may help worker conditions, but opposed by those who felt the cannabis sector was singled out.
- Members began the executive session by moving to adopt a proposed substitute by the prime sponsor, Representative Lillian Ortiz-Self. Then, the committee—which is composed of a 6-3 Democratic majority—proceeded to reject five potential Republican amendments to the proposed sub.
- Amendment MCCB 004 by Representative Joel McEntire
- Amendment MCCB 002 by Ranking Minority Member Suzanne Schmidt
- Amendment MCCB 006 by Representative Alex Ybarra
- Amendment MCCB 005 by Schmidt
- Amendment MCCB 003 by McEntire
- The somewhat heated final discussion on the proposed substitute revealed hard lines between the majority and minority parties whose comments on the legislation had little to do with cannabis as compared to larger agricultural interests and union power.
- Members voted to recommend the legislation out of committee.
- Later on Wednesday after the conclusion of the committee meeting, a final fiscal note on the legislation was published but did not change the already projected outlay. Due to anticipated costs, the legislation would likely be referred to the Washington State House Appropriations Committee (WA House APP) for fiscal review. The standing committee report including the referral determination would be read into the legislative record during the House pro forma session on Thursday at 10:30am [ TVW ].
- HB 1141 - Cannabis Production Unions
- On Wednesday afternoon, members of the Washington State House Consumer Protection and Business Committee (WA House CPB) had planned to host an executive session on legislation to shift authority over producers to the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) - but opted to defer taking any action.
- HB 1067 - Cannabis Producer Authority Transfer
- During a public hearing on Friday January 17th, agency remarks on a bill to move producer/processor regulation to WSDA raised questions of cost and timing, while all but one member of the public testified in favor.
- A fiscal note on HB 1067 was published on Tuesday January 21st in which WSDA staff estimated needing an additional $14.7M in operating expenses during the 2025-27 fiscal biennium and $5.5M more in subsequent biennia after deducting WSLCB cost savings.
- On Wednesday, Chair Amy Walen opened the committee meeting by noting their intention to “defer action” on HB 1067.
- At publication time, another executive session on the legislation had not been scheduled.
- HB 1067 - Cannabis Producer Authority Transfer
- At close of business on Wednesday, legislative staff released the preliminary committee schedule for the upcoming week which included hearings on eight cannabis-related bills and two planned executive sessions.
- Monday January 27th
- 10:30am: WA Senate LC - Committee Meeting [ Event Details ]
- Public Hearing
- SB 5403 - Cannabis Direct Sales
- Public Hearing
- 10:30am: WA Senate LC - Committee Meeting [ Event Details ]
- Tuesday January 28th
- 8am: WA Senate LAW - Committee Meeting [ Event Details ]
- Public Hearing
- SB 5290 - Pre-Hearing SUD Treatment
- Public Hearing
- 1:30pm: WA House CPB - Committee Meeting [ Event Details ]
- 8am: WA Senate LAW - Committee Meeting [ Event Details ]
- Wednesday January 29th
- 1:30pm: WA House CPB - Committee Meeting [ Event Details ]
- Thursday January 30th
- 8am: WA House CS - Committee Meeting [ Event Details ]
- Executive Session
- HB 1315 - Alcohol BAC Limit and DUI
- Executive Session
- 10:30am: WA Senate LAW - Committee Meeting [ Event Details ]
- Executive Session
- SB 5290 - Pre-Hearing SUD Treatment
- Executive Session
- 8am: WA House CS - Committee Meeting [ Event Details ]
- Monday January 27th
- Four cannabis-related bills were staged for introduction on Thursday covering topics including retail robberies, social equity, out of state ownership, and production unions.
- HB 1548 - "Deterring robberies from cannabis retail establishments."
- Cannabis Retail Robberies
- Representatives Alicia Rule and Sam Low planned to introduce a bill which would require reporting of robberies to the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) and create a “special allegation” for enhanced prosecutions similar to thefts from pharmacies.
- The bill appears to be identical to SB 6133 from 2024 which was passed out of committee in the House but was not calendared for a floor vote.
- According to the draft introduction report, the bill would be referred to the Washington State House Community Safety Committee (WA House CS).
- HB 1551 - "Extending the cannabis social equity program."
- Social Equity Program Evaluation
- Representatives Kristine Reeves and Debra Entenman planned to put forward legislation requiring the WSLCB and the Washington State Department of Commerce (WA Commerce) to create a report to the legislature on the first round of the social equity program for publication by December 2025, while also deferring a second round at least until July 2026. The expiration of the program would also be extended by two years to 2034.
- WSLCB staff had been planning to open a second round of retail licensing in the spring of 2025.
- According to the draft introduction report, the bill would be referred to the WA House CPB.
- SB 5456 - “Removing cannabis industry barriers.”
- Out of State Ownership
- Senators Derek Stanford and Drew MacEwen planned to introduce a companion bill to HB 1346 in the Senate.
- According to the draft introduction report, the legislation would be sent to the Washington State Labor and Commerce Committee (WA Senate LC).
- SB 5468 - “Concerning collective bargaining for agricultural cannabis workers.”
- Cannabis Production Unions
- Senators Stanford, Steve Conway, Rebecca Saldaña, Manka Dhingra, and Bob Hasegawa planned to carry the cannabis production unions bill in the Senate, a companion to HB 1141.
- According to the draft introduction report, the bill would be referred to the WA Senate LC led by Saldaña and Conway.
- HB 1548 - "Deterring robberies from cannabis retail establishments."