The Washington state Governor was scheduled to take action on the operating budget for the upcoming biennium, endorsing or vetoing fiscal appropriations for many government activities.
Here’s a look at cannabis-related policymaking events on the calendar in the week ahead.
Monday May 17th
At publication time, no cannabis-related events scheduled
Tuesday May 18th
On Tuesday at 10am PT, the weekly WSLCB Board Caucus was scheduled to recur.
- [ Event Details ]
On Tuesday at 1:30pm PT, the Washington State Health Care Authority (WA HCA) Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR) planned to host a listening session for behavioral health service providers.
- [ Event Details ]
- The event announcement indicated, “Information about providing prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery support services continues to evolve. Join the leadership team with the Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery as they give high level updates on programs. These calls are a great way to ask questions and discuss issues with the experts.”
On Tuesday at 2pm, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee (WA Governor) was scheduled to take action on several bills.
- [ Event Details ]
- SB 5092 - "Making 2021-2023 fiscal biennium operating appropriations."
- As the post-session window for executive action on bills passed by the legislature began closing, the biennium operating budget was scheduled for formal action by Governor Inslee. Last year, in a very uncertain time while government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic ramped up, Inslee vetoed line items totaling $445M in the supplemental biennium operating budget, impacting three cannabis-related appropriations. This year, the latest update from the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council (WA ERFC) appeared substantially more positive in outlook.
Wednesday May 19th
At publication time, no cannabis-related events scheduled
Thursday May 20th
At publication time, no cannabis-related events scheduled
Friday May 21st
At publication time, no cannabis-related events scheduled
2021 Legislative Session
Legislators declared the end of the regular session on Sunday April 25th.
Cannabis-related Laws (4)
- SB 5372 - "Concerning a hemp processor registration process."
- Sponsors (6): Stanford, Warnick, Conway, Hasegawa, Saldaña, J. Wilson
- Last Step: signed by WA Governor on Friday April 16th
- Effective Date: Sunday July 25th, 90 days after adjournment of regular session
- HB 1443 - "Concerning social equity within the cannabis industry."
- Sponsors (13): Morgan, Wicks, Simmons, Berry, J. Johnson, Ramel, Kloba, Ryu, Peterson, Ormsby, Ortiz-Self, Harris-Talley, Macri
- Last Step: signed by WA Governor on Monday May 3rd
- Effective Date: Sunday July 25th, 90 days after adjournment of regular session
- SB 5361 - “Concerning the resentencing of persons convicted of drug offenses.”
- Sponsors (3): McCune, Warnick, J. Wilson
- Last Step: bill action by WA Governor on Wednesday May 12th
- Effective Date: immediate
- SB 5476 - “Responding to the State v. Blake decision by addressing justice system responses and behavioral health prevention, treatment, and related services.”
- Sponsors (11): Dhingra, Hasegawa, Hunt, Kuderer, Lovelett, Nguyen, Pedersen, Rivers, Robinson, Saldaña, Wellman
- Last Step: bill action by WA Governor on Thursday May 13th
- Effective Date: immediate
Cannabis-related Bills - Delivered to Governor (1)
- SB 5092 - "Making 2021-2023 fiscal biennium operating appropriations."
- Sponsors (3): Rolfes, L. Wilson, C. Wilson
- Last Step: delivered to WA Governor on Monday April 26th
- Next Step: bill action by WA Governor on Tuesday May 18th