Interstate commerce was recommended out of committee, no action was taken on the commission bill, and the public received a first look at the Senate operating budget proposal.
Here are some observations of the Washington State Legislature (WA Legislature) for Friday March 24th, the 75th day of the 2023 Regular Session.
My top 3 takeaways:
- During the Washington State House Regulated Substances and Gaming Committee (WA House RSG) meeting on Thursday March 23rd, members recommended the interstate commerce bill without amendment but leadership opted not to bring the cannabis commission bill up for a vote.
- SB 5069 - “Allowing interstate cannabis agreements.”
- Co-Chair Sharon Wylie withdrew her amendment on social equity principles and notification requirements despite having earlier successfully attached the same language to the companion legislation, HB 1159. Wylie indicated she had been subsequently told the amendment “may not be necessary.”
- During the committee hearing on SB 5069 on Monday March 20th, Wylie highlighted her prior amendment after Black Excellence in Cannabis (BEC) President Peter Manning offered uncertain testimony on the legislation (audio - 1m, video). The amendment to 5069 was published the next day prior to the continued public hearing that afternoon where Manning offered supportive testimony on the bill as written (audio < 1m, video).
- The committee voted to recommend the legislation to their peers with the exceptions of Representatives Eric Robertson and Jim Walsh who voted against passage without recommendation, and Representative Greg Cheney who was absent and excused.
- Co-Chair Sharon Wylie withdrew her amendment on social equity principles and notification requirements despite having earlier successfully attached the same language to the companion legislation, HB 1159. Wylie indicated she had been subsequently told the amendment “may not be necessary.”
- SB 5546 - “Establishing a Washington state cannabis commission.”
- During the public hearing on Tuesday March 21st, testimony on the legislation to set up a framework for the creation and operation of a cannabis commodity commission revealed disagreements over the body’s potential value. Supporters emphasized the bill gave licensed producers the power to decide for themselves while opponents feared more “taxation” and alleged the advocates hadn’t conducted sufficient outreach.
- After receiving the staff briefing which confirmed no amendments had been offered on the bill, committee leadership returned from caucus and skipped over the planned executive session. Co-Chair Shelley Kloba simply stated, “we are not going to take any action on ESSB 5546, today” (audio < 1m, video).
- At publication time, the legislation had not been rescheduled for executive session at either of the committee’s two remaining meetings on Monday March 27th or Tuesday March 28th ahead of the opposite house policy committee cutoff on Wednesday March 29th.
- SB 5069 - “Allowing interstate cannabis agreements.”
- Legislative staff published the Washington State Senate Ways and Means Committee (WA Senate WM) Chair’s proposed substitute for SB 5187, the biennium operating budget bill, ahead of a public hearing on the legislation on Friday March 24th.
- The voluminous 1240 page legislation was published on Thursday afternoon along with a 30 page summary and a statewide summary with agency detail.
- Cannabis Observer began the process of identifying appropriations specific to cannabis legislation introduced by senators and appropriations from the dedicated cannabis account. At publication time, we had not identified any unusual budget provisos of note.
- Also on Thursday, legislative staff announced an executive session on the legislation was planned for Monday March 27th.
- In the House, representatives planned to begin work on their version of the operating budget, HB 1140, on Monday.
- The Washington State Senate Rules Committee (WA Senate RULE) planned to convene on Friday March 24th to pull additional legislation to the senate floor calendar - and cannabis-related legislation that had been referred to the committee could be moved.
- The committee meeting was announced on Wednesday March 22nd and indicated that members would be granted one pull from the committee white sheet in addition to consent and gubernatorial appointment confirmation package pulls.
- Following recommendation by the Washington State Senate Labor and Commerce Committee (WA Senate LC) on Monday March 20th, all three Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) gubernatorial appointment confirmations were eligible for inclusion in the package pull.
- At publication time, one cannabis bill could be moved by committee members:
- HB 1772 - “Prohibiting products that combine alcohol and tetrahydrocannabinol.”