The Washington State House Appropriations Committee (WA House APP) considers the operating budget bill and related legislation, budget processes, and fiscal issues such as pension policy and compensation. The committee also considers bills with operating budget fiscal impacts.
Washington State House Appropriations Committee
(WA House APP)
Public
Observations
The Week Ahead
(January 10, 2022)
As the 2022 Washington state legislative session began on Monday, 12 cannabis-related bills had been pre-filed for introduction and 7 would be reintroduced from 2021.
WA House APP - Committee Meeting
(February 6, 2018) - HB 2334 - Executive Session
An $81 annual fee collected from each cannabis licensee was assessed to pay for oversight of imported CBD additives before committee members recommended the bill for passage.
WA House APP - Committee Meeting
(February 1, 2018) - HB 2334 - Public Hearing
Legislation which would authorize the importation of CBD products into I-502 received its first finance committee public hearing.
WA House APP - Committee Meeting
(April 21, 2021) - SB 5476 - Executive Session
Over Republican opposition, the committee approved a striking amendment on legislation to re-criminalize drug possession with reduced penalties while expanding prevention and treatment offerings.
WA House APP - Committee Meeting
(April 19, 2021) - SB 5476 - Public Hearing
No one spoke in favor of a bill re-criminalizing drug possession and expanding treatment diversion programs; critics said it reinstituted prohibition while government advocates stressed the costs of implementation.
The Week Ahead
(April 19, 2021)
The hemp processor bill was signed into law, likely followed by the social equity bill - but the future of drug policy in Washington state was on a strange trip aboard SB 5476.
The Week Ahead
(March 29, 2021)
As budget activity ramped up, fiscal committees undertook the last week for consideration of most policy legislation - and several cannabis-related bills remained unscheduled at the start.
WA House APP - Committee Meeting
(February 22, 2021) - HB 1443 - Executive Session
A bill expanding the State’s social equity in cannabis task force and grant program was recommended out of committee after two amendments to limit the legislation were rejected.
WA House APP - Committee Meeting
(February 19, 2021) - HB 1443 - Public Hearing
Legislative staff briefed on a bill to modify the cannabis social equity task force which drew a question on the need for an emergency clause, received some sign in support, but broached no public testimony.
WA House APP - Committee Meeting
(February 9, 2021) - HB 1019 - Public Hearing
Testimony in the fiscal committee hearing on cannabis home grow was mostly positive with over one hundred people signed in support, while a small group voiced concerns about youth access and normalization.