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
(March 16, 2023)
After renewing focus in policy committees, legislators announced plans to address the majority of active cannabis legislation the following week and begin work on the operating budget.
WA House RSG - Committee Meeting
(March 13, 2023) - SB 5367 - Public Hearing
Committee members heard testimony in favor, opposed, and ‘other’ while seeking suggestions on THC levels for hemp products after the Senate decided any amount of THC was too much.
WA Legislature - Update
(March 10, 2023)
Three policy committees heard cannabis related bills, hosted a work session on the 20 year study of I-502, and began confirming gubernatorial appointments of WSLCB board members.
WA Senate - Session
(March 8, 2023) - SB 5546 - Second and Third Reading
Senators amended and passed legislation to create a framework for establishing a Washington State Cannabis Commission hours before the house of origin gateway was closed.
WA Legislature - Update
(March 9, 2023)
Three cannabis bills made it through the house of origin gateway in the final hours on Wednesday as legislators returned to policy committee work for the following three weeks.
The Week Ahead
(March 6, 2023)
Legislators had hundreds of bills to consider before the house of origin cutoff on Wednesday, then policy committees would renew activity - including on the first cannabis zombie bill.
WA Senate - Session
(March 2, 2023) - SB 5367 - Second and Third Reading
To ensure the safety of youth, senators unanimously agreed any amount of THC in a hemp product was too much as they amended and passed a bill to age gate products containing THC.
WA Legislature - Update
(March 2, 2023)
Two more cannabis bills were pulled out of Senate Rules, interstate was passed by senators, the schedule for next week has some surprises, and floor activity continues.
WA Senate - Session
(February 28, 2023) - SB 5080 - Second and Third Reading
Two amendments added “sideboards” and data analysis to legislation to modify and expand social equity licensing; Senators gave favorable remarks before passing the bill.
WSLCB - Board Caucus
(February 28, 2023) - Summary
The board got a status update on legislation, discussed an impending social equity licensing window, and learned about a new format for staff guidance on rulemaking petitions.