Washington State Senate
(WA Senate)

The social equity program evaluation bill was advanced, preliminary schedules for the following week were published, and legislators prepared for another day of floor activity ahead of the next cutoff.

An informative work session on Monday regarding ESOPs intrigued House leaders as legislators prepared to cross the midpoint of the 105 day regular session one week before the House of Origin cutoff.

Starting at 8am, the primary cannabis policy committee in the House would learn about ESOPs from invited experts before legislators took up floor activity in both chambers.

As legislators considered moving legislation out of the house of origin including nine cannabis-related bills, WSLCB members would discuss “Efficiencies” in their public meetings.

Nine cannabis-related bills remained active after the prior cutoff as legislators turned their attention to moving remaining legislation out of the chamber of origin over the following week and half.

The retail signage legislation was advanced but it seemed likely four other cannabis-related bills would not make it through the House of Origin Fiscal Committee Cutoff gateway by the close of business Friday.

Cannabis-related legislation had mostly been paused ahead of the House of Origin Fiscal Committee Cutoff on Friday, but the cannabis retailer advertising bill was positioned for movement on Thursday.

Opponents of home grow appeared to have been assisted by a committee staffer who fabricated revenue impacts, the DUI bill was advanced, and senators may calendar cannabis-related bills on Wednesday.

The cannabis retail advertising bill was heard by a senate fiscal committee with an executive session already lined up, and the home grow bill would be heard by a fiscal committee in the House on Tuesday.

Of five cannabis-related bills requiring movement before the next cutoff, two were scheduled for initial hearings while the WSLCB Board planned to take up rulemaking on three projects.