WA Legislature - Update
(April 8, 2023)

WA Legislature - Update (April 8, 2023) - Takeaways

The youth protective and hemp destructive THC bill was passed twice on Friday, senators confirmed a WSLCB board member, and legislators prepared to work again on Saturday.

Here are some observations of the Washington State Legislature (WA Legislature) for Saturday April 8th, the 90th day of the 2023 Regular Session.

My top 4 takeaways:

  • On Friday April 7th, the Washington State House of Representatives (WA House) amended and passed SB 5367, the far-reaching THC bill; then members reconsidered for a moment - and passed it again for good measure.
    • SB 5367 was pulled to the House floor calendar on Thursday April 6th.
    • During the second reading of the legislation, Representative Kristine Reeves proposed an amendment which was said to add “an exception to the proposed prohibition on a person manufacturing, selling, or distributing cannabis or cannabis products without a valid license issued by the Liquor and Cannabis Board or the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission, to make an exception for activities that are permitted under a cannabis agreement between Washington and a tribe.” Reeves (audio < 1m, video) and Representative Kelly Chambers spoke in favor of the change (audio < 1m, video), which was adopted in a voice vote.
    • On third reading, remarks were offered by Representative Sharon Wylie, a Co-Chair of the Washington State House Regulated Substances and Gaming Committee (WA House RSG). Members of that policy committee amended the bill text as written by Senators, the new version having been further amended before consideration for passage by the body (audio - 2m, video).
      • Chambers offered the leading position of the House Republican Caucus in support of the bill (audio - 2m, video).
      • Republican Representative Jim Walsh offered the only vocalized contrary position, emphasizing his recognition that the bill—even as rewritten—would harm the hemp industry in Washington state, possibly not achieve intended effects, and likely generate unintended consequences (audio - 2m, video).
    • Representatives voted 93-3-0-2 to pass the bill as amended. Republicans Joel McEntire and Jim Walsh were joined by Democrat Melanie Morgan in opposing passage, and two members were excused (audio - 1m, video).
    • After one subsequent bill was passed, House leadership and legislative staff conversed off microphone at the desk for some time (video) before Representative Dan Bronoske, in his role as Deputy Speaker Pro Tem, motioned for reconsideration of the third reading of SB 5367 without further explanation (audio < 1m, video).
      • The Washington State Legislature website notes, "Under certain circumstances, the chamber may decide to reconsider the vote that was taken; in that case, the chamber has twenty-four hours to make a motion to reconsider the bill."
    • Hearing no objection to the motion for reconsideration amidst rising chatter on the floor, representatives voted 90-6-0-2 the second time around, three individuals having decided to change their vote to oppose passage: Republicans Bruce Chandler and Suzanne Schmidt along with Democrat Sharlett Mena (audio - 1m, video).
      • Judging by the TVW broadcast, two additional unknown representatives switched their votes to support the bill in the final moments of the roll call.
  • Also on Friday, democratic leadership included SB 5080, the social equity bill, in a package of legislation representatives agreed to pull from the Washington State House Rules Committee (WA House RUL) to the floor calendar.
  • On Saturday April 8th, legislators planned a day of floor sessions to continue moving legislation ahead of the opposite house cutoff gateway on Wednesday April 12th.
    • The Washington State Senate planned to convene at 9am on Saturday. At publication time, one cannabis bill was available to senators for concurrence with House changes:
      • SB 5123 - “Concerning the employment of individuals who lawfully consume cannabis.”
    • After working late into Friday night, Representatives cancelled their planned floor sessions on Saturday and would reconvene on Monday April 10th. At publication time, two cannabis bills were available on the House floor calendar:
      • SB 5069 - “Allowing interstate cannabis agreements.”
        • Representative Sharon Wylie filed a technical amendment aiming to correct “a scrivener's error so that statutes are correctly identified.”
      • SB 5080 - “Expanding and improving the social equity in cannabis program.”
        • At publication time, no potential floor amendments to the bill had been published.
    • Wednesday April 12th at 5pm would occasion the opposite house cutoff, the final gateway before the end of the regular session, described as the “Last day to consider (pass) opposite house bills (5 p.m.) (except initiatives and alternatives to initiatives, budgets and matters necessary to implement budgets, differences between the houses, and matters incident to the interim and closing of the session).”