HB 1551 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Extending the cannabis social equity program.

House Bill 1551 extends Washington's cannabis social equity program, which aims to help certain applicants obtain cannabis licenses, until July 1, 2034. The bill requires the Liquor and Cannabis Board to evaluate the program, including public feedback, and submit a report with findings and policy options to the Governor and Legislature by December 1, 2025. To facilitate this review, new license application windows through the program will be paused until June 30, 2026. Additionally, the waiver of annual licensing fees for social equity licenses is extended through the program's new end date.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Last action Jan 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute Bill → Engrossed Substitute Bill · 4 edits · Mar 5, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was amended to add RCW 43.330.540 (Department of Commerce) to the list of statutes being modified, clarifying that the evaluation of the cannabis social equity program must examine the alignment between the Liquor and Cannabis Board and the Department of Commerce. Additionally, a new section was added to establish a technical assistance grant program for social equity applicants, and the evaluation timeline was streamlined by removing a temporary ban on opening new license windows.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly include the Department of Commerce's implementation of the social equity grant program in the legislative review process.

REQUIREMENT

Added the Department of Commerce to the list of statutes amended, ensuring the evaluation covers alignment between the Board and the Department.

ELIGIBILITY

Created a new grant program allowing current cannabis licensees who meet social equity criteria to apply for technical assistance funding.

TIMELINE

Removed a temporary restriction that prevented the Board from opening new license application windows until July 1, 2026.

TECHNICAL

Reorganized the evaluation requirements into a clearer list format for better readability.

Floor votes · House Mar 5, 2025

How they voted

58–40

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 100

Mar 5, 2025

D Democratic61

58 Yea 1 Nay 2

95% Yea

R Republican39

39 Nay

100% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 12, 2026

Introduced

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

LC - Majority; do pass.

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 10:30 AM.

upper

Mar 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 10:30 AM.

upper

Mar 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 8:00 AM.

upper

Mar 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

lower

Feb 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Business at 1:30 PM.

lower

Feb 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Business at 1:30 PM.

lower

Feb 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Business at 1:30 PM.

lower

1 primary · 7 co-sponsors