The Week Ahead
(February 12, 2024)

WA Legislature - House of Origin Cutoff - Cannabis Bills at Risk (February 12, 2024)

Seven cannabis-related bills were at risk ahead of the House of Origin Cutoff on Tuesday after which legislators would return their attention to policy committee hearings and executive sessions.

Here’s a look at cannabis-related policymaking events on the calendar in the week ahead.

Monday February 12th

On Monday, the WA House was scheduled to convene at 9am PT and the WA Senate was scheduled to convene at 10am PT.  See our Washington State Legislature Update for details on the three cannabis-related bills positioned for floor action.

Tuesday February 13th

On Tuesday, the WA House was scheduled to convene at 9am PT and the WA Senate was scheduled to convene at 10am PT.

WSLCB - Board Caucus

On Tuesday at 10am PT, the weekly Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) Board Caucus was scheduled to recur.

WA Legislature - House of Origin Cutoff

On Tuesday at 5pm PT, the Washington State Legislature (WA Legislature) would mark the House of Origin cutoff deadline.

  • [ Cutoff Calendar ]
  • The third gateway that most cannabis bills must be shepherded through would occur on Tuesday and was described as the “Last day to consider (pass) bills in house of origin (5 p.m.).”
    • Legislation can be declared "necessary to implement budgets" (NTIB), an informal procedure leadership can exercise around any bill with a fiscal impact. The criteria for NTIB status and the decision making around the designation hadn’t been set in law or rule, allowing for a bypass of the cutoff calendar which is otherwise agreed to by both chambers through the legislative process.
  • At publication time, four cannabis-related bills appeared at risk, having not been calendared by chamber rules committees:
    • HB 1822 - “Concerning complimentary products provided by short-term rental operators to guests.”
    • SB 5405 - “Modifying the liquor and cannabis board's subpoena authority.”
    • SB 5546 - “Establishing a Washington state cannabis commission.”
    • SB 5662 - “Creating the cannabis employee job retention act.”
  • For the remainder of the week, both chambers would convene policy committee meetings to consider, debate, amend, and recommend legislation before the Opposite House Policy Committee Cutoff the following week on Wednesday February 21st.

Wednesday February 14th

WSLCB - Board Meeting

On Wednesday at 10am PT, the bi-weekly WSLCB Board Meeting was scheduled to recur.

WA House RSG - Committee Meeting

On Wednesday at 10:30am PT, the Washington State House Regulated Substances and Gaming Committee (WA House RSG) was scheduled to convene.

WSLCB - Executive Management Team

On Wednesday at 1:30pm PT, the three-member Board and agency leadership were scheduled to convene their monthly WSLCB Executive Management Team (EMT) meeting.

Thursday February 15th

WA House CSJR - Committee Meeting

On Thursday at 8am PT, the Washington State House Community Safety, Justice, and Reentry Committee (WA House CSJR) was scheduled to convene.

WA House RSG - Committee Meeting

On Thursday at 8am PT, the WA House RSG was scheduled to convene.

WA Senate LC - Committee Meeting

On Thursday at 8am PT, the Washington State Senate Labor and Commerce Committee (WA Senate LC) was scheduled to convene.

Friday February 16th

WA Pharmacy Commission - Legislative Review

On Friday at 12pm PT, the weekly Washington State Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission (WA Pharmacy Commission) Legislative Review was scheduled to recur.