Bills introduced Thursday accrued co-sponsors, a scheduling shakeup was observed, and Friday offered an opportunity to learn how the Consumer Protection Act may be applicable in the cannabis sector.
Here are some observations of the Washington State Legislature (WA Legislature) for Friday January 24th, the 12th day of the 2025 regular session.
My top 3 takeaways:
- Introductions went as planned on Thursday while new co-sponsors signed on and no additional cannabis-related bills were staged for Friday.
- HB 1548 - "Deterring robberies from cannabis retail establishments."
- Cannabis Retail Robberies
- On Thursday, Representatives Alicia Rule and Sam Low introduced 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.
- Two additional co-sponsors signed on bringing the total to four: Representative Shelley Kloba and Deputy Majority Leader Larry Springer.
- The bill was referred to the Washington State House Community Safety Committee (WA House CS) where a hearing had not been announced at publication time.
- HB 1551 - "Extending the cannabis social equity program."
- Social Equity Program Evaluation
- Representatives Kristine Reeves and Debra Entenman 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 until at least July 2026.
- Five new co-sponsors signed on bringing the total to seven: Representatives Melanie Morgan, Kloba, Timm Ormsby, Sharon Tomiko Santos, Beth Doglio, and Natasha Hill.
- The bill was referred to the WA House CPB where four bill sponsors were members. A hearing had not been announced by publication time.
- SB 5456 - “Removing cannabis industry barriers.”
- Out of State Ownership
- Senators Derek Stanford and Drew MacEwen introduced a companion bill to HB 1346.
- Majority Whip T’wina Nobles signed on to co-sponsor the legislation.
- The legislation was sent to the Washington State Labor and Commerce Committee (WA Senate LC) where a hearing had not been announced by publication time.
- SB 5468 - “Concerning collective bargaining for agricultural cannabis workers.”
- Cannabis Production Unions
- Senator Stanford and four co-sponsors introduced the cannabis production unions bill in the Senate, a companion to HB 1141.
- Three new co-sponsors signed on: Senator Noel Frame, Nobles, and Assistant Majority Whip Claire Wilson. Among the eight listed sponsors, five held formal positions of leadership in the Senate Democratic Caucus.
- The bill was referred to the WA Senate LC which was chaired by co-sponsor Senator Rebecca Saldaña.
- HB 1548 - "Deterring robberies from cannabis retail establishments."
- The preliminary schedule for the following week released on Wednesday evening was already being revised by Thursday, including deferral of initial public hearings on three cannabis-related bills and rescheduling potential action on the data dashboard bill.
- Wednesday January 29th
- 1:30pm: WA House CPB - Committee Meeting [ Event Details ]
- Public Hearing
- HB 1346 -
Out of State Ownership - HB 1348 -
Cannabis ESOPs - HB 1410 -
Suspending Inactive Producer Licenses - No reason was provided for the calendaring changes which substituted hearings on alcohol-related legislation. All three bills were prime sponsored by Representatives David Hackney or Sam Low who both traveled to speak at the Washington CannaBusiness Association (WACA) symposium on December 4th where the subjects of all three bills were announced as legislative priorities of the organization’s leadership.
- HB 1346 -
- Executive Session
- HB 1066 - WSLCB Data Dashboard
- While previously scheduled for an executive session on Tuesday January 21st, action was deferred on the regulated substances data dashboard bill due to a pending amendment by Reeves, the prime sponsor. At publication time, no amendments had been published.
- Public Hearing
- 1:30pm: WA House CPB - Committee Meeting [ Event Details ]
- Wednesday January 29th
- On Friday, legislators were not scheduled to take up cannabis-related legislation but members of the primary cannabis policy committee in the House would host an opportunity to learn about the Consumer Protection Act.
- The House was scheduled to convene a pro forma floor session at 9:55am [ TVW ] and a regular floor session at 1:30pm [ TVW ]. The Senate planned to convene a pro forma floor session at 12:30pm [ TVW ].
- During their committee meeting beginning at 8am, WA House CPB members planned to host a work session offering an “Introduction to the Consumer Protection Act.” Non-partisan committee staff would provide a primer on the 1961 legislation which “forbids unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in any trade or commerce” (presentation).