The Washington State Senate Ways and Means Committee (WA Senate WM) considers the operating and capital budget bills and related legislation, including the authorization of state debt. The committee also deals with tax policy and other fiscal issues such as pension policy and compensation in addition to bills with operating budget fiscal impacts.
Washington State Senate Ways and Means Committee
(WA Senate WM)
Public
Observations
WA Legislature - Update
(February 10, 2023)
Senators heard mixed testimony after mixing the hearings on two very different bills, home grow encountered a hitch in the House, and the WRAP Act would be unwrapped in Appropriations.
WA Legislature - Update
(February 9, 2023)
Senators advanced two cannabis bills, schedules for the following week were published, a new bill would be introduced, and legislators would convene on Thursday for hearings and action.
WA Legislature - Update
(February 1, 2023)
Legislators moved four bills forward and heard two more, cannabis packaging changes may be delegated to WSLCB, and a substantial new labor bill was prepared for introduction.
WA Governor - Bill Action
(March 31, 2022) - SB 5693
The Governor shared his thoughts on the supplemental budget before signing it; the measure created two hemp task forces, a community reinvestment fund, and other cannabis-centric changes.
WSLCB - Board Caucus
(March 8, 2022) - Summary
After rulemaking and legislative updates, Chair David Postman had a lot to say about committee changes to the last moving cannabinoid regulation and enforcement bill - none of it flattering.
WA Senate WM - Committee Meeting
(March 7, 2022) - SB 5983 - Executive Session
Given two proposed substitutes on a bill to regulate cannabinoids, almost the entire committee voted for a more limited version to get some cannabinoid products off the shelves and study the issues.
WA Senate WM - Committee Meeting
(March 5, 2022) - SB 5983 - Public Hearing
A last-minute hearing on a repackaged bill to regulate synthesized cannabinoids revealed shared public health concerns but testimony otherwise remained just as sharply divided.
WSLCB - Board Caucus
(March 1, 2022) - Legislative Affairs Update
Staff explained the session was “coming to an end” and discussed active legislation—including a new cannabinoid regulation bill–as well as budget provisos which could affect WSLCB.
The Week Ahead
(February 28, 2022)
Four synthesized cannabinoid regulation bills had been introduced after cutoff, cannabis-related amendments were in the operating budget, and new QC rules were imminent.
WSLCB - Board Caucus
(February 22, 2022) - Legislative Affairs Update
The agency’s top lobbyist reviewed legislative activity, diving deeper into a new cannabinoid regulation bill and work to salvage components of unsuccessful social equity legislation.