All 14 remaining cannabis-related bills made it through the opposite house policy committee gateway as sequencing of legislation by rules and fiscal committees became more crucial.
Here are some observations of the Washington State Legislature (WA Legislature) for Wednesday March 29th, the 80th day of the 2023 Regular Session.
My top 3 takeaways:
- On Tuesday March 28th, the Washington State House Regulated Substances and Gaming Committee (WA House RSG) amended and unanimously recommended SB 5363 on retail signage.
- In their final planned policy committee meeting of the 2023 regular session, members took less than eight minutes to consider, amend, and vote on legislation to shift control of some physical aspects of cannabis retail signs to local authorities.
- Representative Kristine Reeves spoke to her proposed amendment intended to clarify existing statutory restrictions on placement of signs within one thousand feet of protected zones (audio - 1m, video). The amendment was adopted in a voice vote.
- In an expedited vote, all members approved recommending the legislation to their peers (audio - 1m, video) with the exception of Representative Melanie Morgan who was excused.
- Also on Tuesday, the Washington State Senate Rules Committee (WA Senate RULE) calendared the senate version of the operating budget bill and planned to meet again on Thursday.
- Members convened very briefly on the senate floor after their pro forma session to approve two groups of consent and regular package pulls, the latter of which included SB 5187, “Making 2023-2025 fiscal biennium operating appropriations.”
- Later on Tuesday, it was announced that members planned to more formally convene on Thursday morning to approve another group of regular package pulls and exercise two member pulls.
- At publication time, all of the active cannabis-related bills from the House had been referred to WA Senate RULE for calendaring, meaning none would be heard by the senate fiscal committee:
- WA Senate RULE was also responsible for pulling gubernatorial appointments to the senate confirmation calendar, usually as a set of confirmation package pulls. Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) Chair David Postman’s confirmation legislation was pulled on March 24th, but that of his peers on the board remained in the rules committee:
- On Wednesday March 28th, the Washington State Legislature would mark the next cutoff gateway signifying the end of regular policy committee work and the Washington State House Appropriations Committee (WA House APP) planned to host an executive session on the house version of the operating budget bill.
- Wednesday would occasion the opposite house policy committee cutoff, described as the “Last day to read in committee reports (pass bills out of committee and read them into the record on the floor) from opposite house, except House fiscal committees and Senate Ways & Means and Transportation committees.”
- In less than a week, the opposite house fiscal committee cutoff would occur on Tuesday April 4th.
- Also on Wednesday at 4pm PT, the WA House APP was scheduled to convene to consider HB 1140, “Making 2023-2025 fiscal biennium operating appropriations.”
- At publication time, there were no published amendments on the legislation.
- Wednesday would occasion the opposite house policy committee cutoff, described as the “Last day to read in committee reports (pass bills out of committee and read them into the record on the floor) from opposite house, except House fiscal committees and Senate Ways & Means and Transportation committees.”