Transcript Highlights:

• Second, LCB may issue kratom distributor and retailer licenses.
• I believe the bill is clarifying that LCB would not be the one enforcing it.
• and you're right, the LCB would not be enforcing this.
• So yes, the LCB would investigate complaints.
• And so LCB is in charge of regulating commercial activity.

Bills: SB6196, SB6204, SB6195, SB5882, SB6134

Keywords: kratom, taxation, regulated substances, health safety, state revenue, cannabis, marijuana, home grow, home cultivation, personal cultivation, adult use cannabis, recreational marijuana, 21 and older, controlled substances, RCW 69.50, Liquor and Cannabis Board, LCB, plant limits, cannabis possession, cannabis concentrates

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills. SB 5882 would extend workers’ compensation PTSD presumptions to local correctional facility workers after 90 days of employment; staff explained the current L&I rule, the bill’s rebuttable presumption, and estimated five-year claim costs of about $6.7 million to $15.3 million. The prime sponsor and supporters from labor, sheriffs/police chiefs, and injured-worker advocates said correctional work is highly traumatic and the bill would shift the burden of proof to employers. Opponents, including cities, retailers, and self-insurers, raised concerns about cost, system sustainability, and whether a presumption should be created without more study. L&I said the fund is currently healthy and clarified that PTSD can already be covered as a single-event injury, while occupational disease claims cover repeated exposure. The committee also heard SB 6196 on kratom taxation and regulation. The bill would impose a 95% tax starting in 2027, create licensing and labeling requirements, and direct revenue to youth harmful substance prevention. Supporters said kratom is unregulated, increasingly available to youth, and should be age-gated and more tightly controlled; some asked for a 21+ purchase age and stronger enforcement. Opponents from the food and retail industries argued the tax is too high and could hurt legitimate retailers, while the American Kratom Association said the bill goes beyond taxation and should instead focus on consumer-protection measures and banning concentrated synthetic products. The sponsor said the bill was prompted by concerns about youth access and unregulated sales. SB 6204 would authorize adults to grow up to six cannabis plants in a housing unit, with no more than 15 plants per premises, while creating penalties for violations and excluding family daycare homes and foster family homes. Supporters said home grow should have been included in legalization, would help consumers understand the plant, and could support small growers and equity goals. Opponents, including law enforcement, cities, public health, and substance-misuse groups, warned about youth access, home safety, enforcement difficulties, and possible impacts on the regulated market and tax revenue. LCB clarified it would not enforce home-grow rules, while local law enforcement would handle violations. The committee briefly heard SB 6134, which would require ESD to notify striking workers applying for unemployment benefits that retroactive wages may create an overpayment they must repay. The sponsor said the bill is meant to ensure workers understand repayment obligations if a strike settlement includes back pay; a Washington Policy Center witness supported it as a safeguard for workers and the UI trust fund. Finally, SB 6195 would reduce cannabis producer canopy tiers based on reported gross sales, with exemptions for extenuating circumstances. Proponents from the cannabis industry said the bill responds to chronic oversupply and would help stabilize the market, while opponents and some other stakeholders urged more flexibility, better traceability data, and protections for social equity entrants. No votes were taken in the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• LCB reform is a necessary course correction.
• LCB reform is a necessary course correction.
• and the collaborations that LCB needs with other agencies to implement its current tasks.
• We think that SB 6290 has a very serious problem in that it changes LCB essentially from an executive
• The LCB is already a huge agency.

Bills: SB6290, SB6282, SB5379, SB6197, SB6158, SB6302, SB5882, SB6303, SB6180, SB6195, SB6196, SB6204, SB6287

Keywords: liquor regulation, cannabis board, reorganization, state agency, governance, apprenticeship, behavioral health, construction trades, workforce training, wellness, interest arbitration, parks and recreation, public employees, labor relations, employee rights, SB 6197, plumbing contractor, plumber, contractor licensing, licensing enforcement

Summary: The Labor and Commerce Committee first suspended the five-day notice rule to take up Senate Bill 629, which would restructure the Liquor and Cannabis Board. Proponents from the hospitality and cannabis industries argued the current board is overloaded by combining liquor and cannabis regulation and said a larger or differently structured board would improve focus, accountability, and stakeholder engagement. A substance misuse prevention representative opposed the bill, warning that shifting the agency toward a board controlled largely by legislative appointments would be a major governance change and could disrupt existing interagency systems. The committee then moved the bill into executive session but did not take final action on SB 629 in the portion of the transcript provided. In executive session, the committee heard and acted on several other bills. It adopted substitutes and advanced SB 6282 on behavioral health training for construction apprentices, SB 5379 on interest arbitration for Parks and Recreation Commission employees, SB 6197 on plumber license suspension for repeat violations, SB 6158 on factory-built housing inspections, SB 6302 on limits for independent contractors on public works finishing work, SB 5882 on PTSD claims for local correctional facility workers, SB 6195 on cannabis oversupply and producer tier thresholds, SB 6196 on kratom taxation, SB 6204 on home cultivation of cannabis, and SB 6287 on kratom product restrictions. Several of these bills were sent to Ways and Means because of fiscal impacts, while SB 6204 was sent to Rules after adoption of an amendment allowing local governments to ban or restrict home cultivation in residential areas. Testimony and committee discussion reflected mixed views on the policy bills. Supporters of the cannabis and kratom measures emphasized public health, youth prevention, and the need to modernize regulation, while opponents raised concerns about cost, agency burden, overregulation, and the scope of taxation or restrictions. On SB 6302, some members supported the effort to address worker misclassification, while others objected to the cap on independent contractors. The committee also noted that SB 6303 on cannabis packaging and vapor devices would not move that day. Most bills were reported out with do pass recommendations and subject to signatures, with several going to Ways and Means for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it a failure of the retailer to report to LCB?
• We did get a couple of examples from talking to LCB staff.
• My question is for LCB. My concern is waiting until 2031.
• A software vendor could develop a custom system for LCB, or LCB could develop something in-house.
• LCB would have that information, and if it's not publicly available on their website, I would ask LCB

Summary: At the May 14, 2025 JLARC meeting, members approved the January 9 minutes and adopted the 2025–27 biennial work plan with a minor typo correction. Staff reviewed the new work plan studies, including a drug take-back program fee/expenditure review due in December 2025 and a state energy performance standard compliance review due in June 2027, and noted JLARC’s recent session activity, including several bills passed related to JLARC work and recommendations. The committee then heard a preliminary cannabis market study showing Washington businesses likely produced two to three times more cannabis than retailers sold in 2023. Staff and RAND said LCB’s data systems are incomplete and unreliable, limiting regulation, tax verification, and diversion tracking; they recommended that LCB submit a plan by year-end for collecting accurate data by the end of 2026. Members and LCB discussed the long timeline for a new traceability system, the causes of missing sales and weight data, overproduction, diversion, and the social equity program’s effect on producer licenses. JLARC also presented a preliminary hospital oversight report concluding that the Department of Health is late on many hospital inspections, does not verify third-party inspection standards, does not review adverse health event correction plans, and could make hospital data more accessible. The committee discussed fee funding, language access, and inspection timing, and DOH said it would work on a strategic plan and continue coordinating with JLARC. Members also heard a preliminary report on the public records survivor exemption, which found agencies are using it but need more guidance; JLARC recommended keeping the exemption and having the Attorney General provide additional training. Finally, the committee approved the DDA processes and staffing final report for distribution, which recommended performance metrics, stronger data quality controls, and workforce planning; DDA concurred. JLARC also introduced proposed study questions for a future DCYF juvenile rehabilitation review focused on safety, security, programs, staffing, education, and contraband, and the meeting adjourned after members asked about scope and facility conditions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Second, LCB may issue Kratum distributor and retailer licenses.
• Fifteen plants, but LCB can't come on the premises.
• ’re right: the LCB would not be enforcing this.
• So yes, the LCB would investigate complaints.
• And so LCB is in charge of regulating commercial activity.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills. SB 5882 would extend workers’ compensation PTSD presumptions to local correctional facility workers after 90 days of employment, with staff explaining the bill’s scope, fiscal note, and how claims would affect employers’ experience ratings. The sponsor and labor representatives supported the measure as a response to correctional officer trauma, while cities, retailers, and self-insurers opposed it over cost, system sustainability, and the need for more study. Labor and Industries said the estimated five-year state-fund claim cost ranges from $6.7 million to $15.3 million, and the hearing closed after testimony from both sides. The committee then heard SB 6196, which would impose a 95% excise tax on kratom products starting in 2027, create licensing and labeling requirements, and direct revenue to youth harmful substance prevention. Supporters argued kratom is unregulated and increasingly available to youth, and some urged age-gating and stronger restrictions on synthetic concentrated products. Opponents, including retailers and the American Kratom Association, said the bill is too punitive, would hurt legitimate businesses, and should be revised into a consumer protection framework rather than treated like a controlled substance. No vote was taken. SB 6204, allowing adults to grow up to six cannabis plants at home with a 15-plant household cap, drew strong support from cannabis advocates and some medical users, who said home grow should have been part of legalization and would help consumers understand the plant. Opponents from law enforcement, cities, and public health warned about youth access, enforcement problems, fire and chemical risks, and possible impacts on cannabis tax revenue. The committee also heard SB 6134, requiring notice to striking workers about possible UI overpayments if they later receive retroactive wages, which the sponsor said would prevent surprise repayment obligations; testimony was overwhelmingly supportive. Finally, SB 6195, aimed at reducing cannabis oversupply by tying producer canopy size to reported sales, drew broad support from cannabis businesses and trade groups, who said it would stabilize the market and address JLARC’s findings, with some stakeholders asking for implementation fixes and clearer language.

Transcript Highlights:

• LCB partially concurred with this recommendation.
• LCB is going to be able to implement the moving up the timeline for the data system.
• Are there any other questions or comments before we go to hear from LCB? All right.
• It says the LCB should provide a system for reporting and maintain it.
• This summer, the LCB has made available a total of 69.

Summary: The meeting began with JLARC’s biennial executive committee elections. After confirming a quorum, members unanimously elected Representative Pollet as chair, Senator Wagoner as vice chair, Representative Orcutt as secretary, and Senator Solomon as assistant secretary for the 2025-27 biennium. The committee also approved the May 14 meeting minutes unanimously. Chair Pollet then outlined a commitment to more member input on audit scope and coordination with the State Auditor’s Office. Staff presented a preliminary report on Washington State recreation boating programs. They reported that six agencies administer boating-related activities, that the state collected about $108 million in boating-related revenue in 2021-23, and that $86 million was spent, mostly on infrastructure and water access, environmental protection, boater safety, and marine law enforcement. Staff said Washington’s boating laws and programs are broadly similar to other states and noted that the final report is expected in September. JLARC then reviewed several tax preferences. For natural gas used as a transportation fuel, staff said the preferences reduce fuel costs but did not meet emissions-reduction targets because fewer vessels and vehicles converted to natural gas than expected; staff recommended continuing some exemptions and modifying reporting requirements. For travel agents and tour operators, staff said the preference continues to provide tax relief, but large beneficiaries’ savings are rising while small beneficiaries’ use is declining, leading to recommendations to continue the small-business rate and add or revise performance metrics. Staff also reviewed a nonprofit low-income housing property tax exemption, concluding it helps developers build homes as intended but that the performance metric should better reflect housing outcomes; they recommended the legislature decide whether to continue or modify it. Other reviews covered multipurpose senior citizen centers, disabled veteran adapted housing, trade convention attendance, agricultural fertilizer and seed wholesaling, hazardous substance tax treatment for pesticides, and silicon smelter energy preferences, with recommendations ranging from continuation to expiration depending on whether the stated objectives were met. The committee then adopted the final cannabis market study for distribution. Staff reported that Washington businesses produced two to three times more cannabis than retailers sold in 2023, and that inaccurate and incomplete reporting limits the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s ability to regulate the market. The board said it concurs with the recommendations, including developing a plan for a new data system and considering broader social equity options. Finally, staff presented the proposed final report on Department of Health oversight of hospital data reporting, inspections, and complaints. Staff said DOH was late on most acute-care hospital inspections, had not fully verified third-party inspection standards, and did not adequately review adverse event correction plans or assess language access barriers in its complaint system. DOH said it concurs with all six recommendations and has already made some transparency improvements, including a public dashboard for adverse event reporting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The LCB doesn't have any of that.
• The LCB doesn't have any of that.
• We can follow up with LCB.
• We can follow up with LCB.
• We can follow up with LCB.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 1347, which would streamline cannabis testing lab accreditation by requiring the Liquor and Cannabis Board to accept Department of Agriculture accreditation as the basis for initial certification under certain conditions and to reduce duplication between agencies. The prime sponsor and several industry witnesses said the bill is intended to clarify authority, improve efficiency, and preserve consumer safety, while LCB said it had no policy objection but wanted implementation concerns addressed. Several witnesses supported the concept but said an amendment was needed to clearly assign accreditation authority to WSDA and avoid overlapping requirements. The committee also heard and later took action on several bills. House Bill 2229 would update the Professional Engineers Registration Act by changing board membership rules, increasing pro tem members, and revising registration and exam provisions; the sponsor and board director said it modernizes qualifications without changing licensure standards. House Bill 2091 would require more complete employee contact information to be shared with exclusive bargaining representatives under the Personnel System Reform Act; union witnesses supported it and a policy witness opposed it as a privacy intrusion. Second Substitute House Bill 1128 would create a Child Care Workforce Standards Board to make recommendations on child care worker standards; supporters said it addresses workforce shortages and retention, while providers and associations argued it duplicates existing work and could lead to unfunded mandates. In executive action, the committee voted do pass on Substitute House Bills 2492, 2107, 2151, 2355, and Gross Substitute House Bill 2471, and sent them to Rules. It also voted do pass on Second Substitute House Bill 2105 and referred it to Ways and Means. Other bills heard included House Bill 1701 on shared liquor license premises, where a small business owner supported more flexible shared-space arrangements and LCB suggested amendments to prevent undue influence; House Bill 2264 on unemployment benefits for employer-initiated layoffs, which was supported as a clarification to protect workers who opt into reduction-in-force programs; Substitute House Bill 2472 on fire sprinkler work enforcement, supported by labor and industry witnesses; and Second Substitute House Bill 2345, which would adjust paid family and medical leave premium allocations to address IRS tax guidance, with broad support from labor, business, and the agency.

Transcript Highlights:

• For the record, Mark Webster with the LCB.
• For background, a snack bar license issued by LCB allows a retailer to...
• I would say that that would be a good question for LCB to point to specifically. Thank you.
• We'll hear from our prime sponsor, and then I guess we're interested also in hearing from LCB.
• LCB did want to bring to your attention just a timing issue. So this bill came from 2025.

Bills: HB1526, HB1069, HB1347, HB2091, HB2264

Keywords: liquor license, snack bar, state regulations, alcohol sales, business licensing, collective bargaining, retirement benefits, employee rights, public sector, supplemental benefits, education, funding, student loans, affordability, higher education, public employers, employee information, bargaining representatives, labor relations, union representation

Transcript Highlights:

• For the record, Mark Webster with the LCB.
• For background, a snack bar license issued by LCB allows a retailer to...
• I would say that that would be a good question for LCB to point to specifically. Thank you.
• We'll hear from our prime sponsor, and then I guess we're interested also in hearing from LCB.
• LCB did want to bring to your attention just a timing issue. So this bill came from 2025.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills. Second Substitute House Bill 2479 would create a wage recovery program within L&I to advance part of unpaid wages to low-wage workers facing immediate hardship, funded by civil penalties, while also increasing and restructuring wage theft penalties and complaint prioritization. Supporters, including the prime sponsor, labor advocates, and employer representatives from the work group, said it would help workers get paid faster and was a consensus proposal; questions focused on how the current complaint process works and whether general fund money would be needed. Engrossed House Bill 1941, as amended, would allow licensed cannabis producers to form agricultural cooperatives, with the striking amendment limiting any cooperative to three producer licenses; supporters said cannabis producers should have the same cooperative tools as other agricultural sectors, while some testimony urged future changes for interstate commerce and warned against consolidation. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2476 would expand the spirits, beer, and wine theater license from 120 to 200 seats per screen and add stronger alcohol-control measures when minors are present; theater operators and LCB supported the change, and committee questions focused on youth access and enforcement. House Bill 1526 would allow snack bar licensees to sell wine by the glass in addition to beer; the sponsor said it simply modernizes the license, and LCB noted a likely fee alignment issue and a small revenue impact. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1155 would void non-compete agreements and expand related notice and non-solicitation rules, with testimony split between labor and worker advocates supporting broader worker mobility and business and health care groups seeking narrower exemptions for executives, physicians, and financial institutions. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2303 would prohibit employers from requesting or coercing employees to accept microchip implants, with no testimony offered. Substitute House Bill 2405 would create a three-year pilot for earlier PTSD treatment coverage in workers’ compensation for eligible occupational disease claims, with L&I supporting it as a way to improve outcomes and reduce long-term costs. The committee also took public testimony on these bills, with strong pro and con positions noted on the wage recovery, cannabis cooperative, and non-compete measures. In executive action, the committee adopted a striking amendment and passed House Bill 1069, narrowing it to Department of Corrections employees and making supplemental retirement bargaining mandatory, despite concerns from one member about the change. The committee also adopted a striking amendment on House Bill 1347 concerning cannabis testing labs, then passed it to Rules; passed Second Substitute House Bill 1701 on liquor licensees sharing property; passed House Bill 291 on employee information for public employers to Ways and Means; passed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2229 updating engineer registration provisions; passed House Bill 2264 on unemployment eligibility for workers in employer-initiated layoffs; passed Substitute House Bill 2472 adding enforcement for sprinkler contractors and fitters; and passed Second Substitute House Bill 2345 on paid family and medical leave premium allocation. A striking amendment to Second Substitute House Bill 1128 creating a child care workforce standards board was not adopted, and the bill then passed to Rules. The committee also announced it would hold House Bill 1066 for later action and planned to return the next day for its final executive session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Once met, don't have to be duplicated at the LCB.
• For the record, Mark Webster with the LCB is testifying other on the bill before you.
• I've sent it to WSDA and LCB to review to see if it still allows the two agencies to do... ...LCB to
• The LCB doesn't have any of that.
• While that was a significant step forward, there remains overlap between WSDA and LCB.

Bills: HB1347, HB2091, HB2264

Keywords: education, funding, student loans, affordability, higher education, public employers, employee information, bargaining representatives, labor relations, union representation, unemployment insurance, benefits, employment, layoffs, workforce reduction, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I actually believe the LCB would be the best. I would be happy to touch space with them.
• The LCB would be required to adopt rules.
• The LCB then goes and considers it.
• so the LCB has that information available.
• You have to get it approved by the LCB.

Bills: HB2128, HB2207, HB1701, HB2536, HB2476, HB2294, HB2229

Keywords: alcohol service, sports facilities, amusement venues, recreational activities, patron engagement, alcohol warehousing, regulation, liquor distribution, storage standards, state laws, liquor licenses, multiple premises, alcohol distribution, commercial leasing, regulatory reform, winery, restaurant license, alcohol, spirits, beer

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee held public hearings on several alcohol-licensing bills. House Bill 2128 would expand the sports entertainment facility liquor license to cover facilities where patrons engage in sports, amusement, or recreational activities. Supporters, including the prime sponsor and the Washington Hospitality Association, said it would help a controlled, fenced-in adventure park in Leavenworth serve alcohol throughout the park while preserving LCB oversight and safety controls. A remote testifier from the park could not be heard. Members asked about whether the bill expanded alcohol access and about violation rates; staff said a fiscal note had been requested but not yet received. House Bill 2207 would create a bonded beer warehouse license and align beer warehousing with existing wine warehousing rules. The prime sponsor said it would help a Ridgefield logistics warehouse store beer as it already stores wine and spirits, though she noted she was considering amendments to address direct-to-consumer shipping and federal compliance. Brewers supported the bill as a parity and small-business measure, while distributors and spirits/wine distributors opposed or raised concerns about direct-to-consumer shipping, public access, and the need for stronger guardrails. The warehouse owner testified that the facility is highly secured and that the bill would help breweries avoid unnecessary warehousing costs. House Bill 2536 would allow wineries to hold spirits, beer, and wine restaurant licenses at additional winery locations. The sponsor and Washington Wine Institute said the bill would reduce administrative burdens and let wineries operate more like breweries already can, without increasing alcohol access. DeLille Cellars testified that current law forces wineries to create separate entities and duplicate payroll, HR, accounting, and compliance systems for offsite tasting-room restaurants. House Bill 2476 would remove the 120-seat-per-screen limit for theaters seeking a spirits, beer, and wine theater license. Theater owners and hospitality groups supported the change, saying theaters already operate under alcohol control plans and that the cap limits attendance at popular events; the sponsor said the bill would not expand alcohol access, only remove an outdated seating restriction. The committee also heard House Bill 1701, which would allow multiple liquor licensees to operate separate premises within a shared facility and let LCB review leases or agreements. The sponsor said it would help a Chelan winery/brewery/restaurant complex operate under separate leases, and he said he was willing to remove the Public Records Act exemption again. Distributors supported transparency but opposed the PRA exemption and urged filing lease information with the LCB. In executive action, the committee adopted Amendment Claude 407 to House Bill 2229, which restores the current name of the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, and then reported Substitute House Bill 2229 out of committee with a due pass recommendation by an 8-6 vote, with one member excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• LCB reform is a necessary course correction.
• We think that SB 629 has a very serious problem in that it changes LCB essentially from an executive
• Executive boards and commissions like the LCB, Fish and Game, and Parks are designed to be insulated
• The WSLCB is already set up to monitor cannabis, and we've had years of working with our LCB officers
• The LCB is already a huge agency.

Summary: The Labor and Commerce Committee began by suspending the five-day notice rule for Senate Bill 629, then held testimony on the bill, which would restructure the Liquor and Cannabis Board. Proponents, including the Washington Hospitality Association, the Washington Cannabis Business Association, and the Cannabis Alliance, argued the current board structure is overburdened by alcohol and cannabis responsibilities, slows decision-making, and should be expanded or reorganized to improve accountability and focus. Opponents, including the Washington Association for Substance Misuse and Violence Prevention and a cannabis business owner, warned the bill would create unnecessary administrative costs, weaken executive accountability, and should not advance without more study. The committee did not take final action on SB 629 during the hearing portion, but later moved several bills out of committee. In executive session, the committee adopted proposed substitutes and advanced SB 6282 on behavioral health training for construction apprentices, SB 5379 on interest arbitration for Parks and Recreation Commission employees, SB 6197 on plumber license discipline, SB 6158 on factory-built housing and utility structures, SB 6302 on limits for independent contractors on public works finishing work, SB 5882 on PTSD workers’ compensation coverage for local correctional facility workers, SB 6180 on firefighter and law enforcement heart-related occupational disease presumptions, SB 6195 on cannabis producer oversupply, SB 6196 on kratom taxation, SB 6204 on home cannabis cultivation, and SB 6287 on kratom product restrictions. Several bills were sent to Ways and Means because of fiscal impacts, while SB 6204 was sent to Rules after adoption of an amendment allowing local governments to restrict home cultivation in residential areas. The committee also noted that SB 6303 on cannabis packaging and vapor devices would not move that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• We reviewed the retail sales over time that LCB reports.
• However, LCB has not issued new producer licenses since 2013.
• LCB does require that all producer businesses submit a floor plan that shows their canopy.
• Applications for these licenses have not yet begun, so LCB has not yet issued these.
• LCB did select, I don't want to call them winners. They did choose from those applicants.

Summary: The committee began with a work session on the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee’s cannabis market study, presented by JLARC staff member Susanna Pratt. The report found Washington’s cannabis production in 2023 was likely two to three times higher than retail sales, with production estimated at 292,000 to 443,000 pounds of THC versus 139,000 pounds sold. Pratt explained that canopy data are inconsistent and that the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s traceability system is incomplete and unreliable, limiting data-driven regulation, tax verification, recall tracking, and diversion enforcement. JLARC recommended that LCB submit a plan by the end of 2025 for obtaining accurate licensee data by the end of 2026; LCB partially concurred and said a 2027 timeline may be more realistic. JLARC also concluded that the social equity producer licenses would likely have only a minimal effect on statewide production capacity, and suggested the legislature consider broader ways to increase equity in the industry. Members asked about the slow issuance of social equity licenses and about comparable traceability systems in other states. The committee then heard a series of presentations on fraud and scam prevention. Paul Benda of the American Bankers Association described the scale of fraud losses, the role of telecom spoofing, social media scam ads, SIM farms, and crypto ATMs, and argued for a shared-responsibility approach involving banks, telecoms, and platforms. Katie Clark of IQ Credit Union described member-to-member fraud, romance scams, and the operational and financial impacts on credit unions, and recommended better information sharing, safe harbors for returning scam-related funds, and stronger fraud education. Kyle Innes of SIFMA highlighted investor fraud and Washington’s 2009 report-and-hold law, which he said helped shape similar protections in most states, and emphasized the need for better communication among financial firms, APS, and law enforcement. Brian Gerard and Ali Higgs from the Department of Financial Institutions discussed “pig butchering” and other investment scams, focusing on how scammers build trust through social media, dating apps, fake websites, and crypto schemes before extracting funds. Across the fraud presentations, witnesses repeatedly stressed consumer education, interagency information sharing, and stronger controls on telecom, social media, and crypto ATM activity. Members asked about model laws from other states, the role of financial education in schools, and whether crypto ATMs should be regulated or banned. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Applications for licensure are to be submitted to the LCB for approval, along with a $1,000 license and
• Each kratum product must have a certificate of analysis submitted to the LCB for approval.
• Beginning January 1, 2027, the LCB must make and maintain a publicly available online directory that
• The LCB is responsible for enforcing the act.
• I will say I think the LCB will also tell you one of the things... ...adding to the conversation.

Bills: HB2291, HB2629, HB2439, HB1078, HB1701, HB2207, HB2501, HB2361, HB1932

Keywords: kratom, consumer protection, regulation, health safety, substance control, infrastructure, protection, safety, security, state regulations, public health, tobacco regulation, smoking cessation, vapor products, health policy, youth prevention, pet insurance, insurance regulation, animal welfare, claims processes

Summary: The committee opened a public hearing on House Bill 2291, the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, and received a staff briefing describing a licensing and regulatory framework for kratom processors and retailers, age restrictions, product bans, labeling and testing requirements, a public product directory, an 11% excise tax, and enforcement by the Liquor and Cannabis Board. The prime sponsor said the bill is intended to regulate natural kratom while banning synthetic or chemically altered products, and members asked about local authority, impaired driving, and whether the bill should more closely resemble cannabis or opioid regulation. Testimony was mixed: retailers and cities supported regulation but raised concerns about the $1,000 license fee and state preemption of local bans; public health and youth prevention witnesses supported the bill and warned about addiction, child exposure, and overdoses; kratom users and the Global Kratom Coalition defended natural kratom leaf as a lawful botanical and opposed treating it like cannabis or imposing high barriers to entry. The hearing on HB 2291 was then closed, and the committee moved into executive session on several other bills. In executive session, the committee heard staff briefings on multiple measures, including HB 2439 on cigarette, vapor product, and tobacco policy; HB 1078 on pet insurance continuity; HB 1701 on multiple liquor licensees in one facility; HB 2207 on bonded beer warehousing; HB 2501 on real estate disclosure language for heating oil tanks; HB 2361 on increasing the maximum small loan amount; and HB 1932 on cannabis consumption events. Members discussed proposed substitutes and amendments, including changes to consumer protection enforcement, coupon restrictions, local preemption, licensing details, and funding allocations. The committee also took a brief caucus recess before voting on bills. The committee adopted amendments and reported HB 2439, HB 1078, HB 1701, HB 2207, HB 2501, HB 2361, and HB 1932 out of committee with do-pass recommendations. HB 2439’s substitute was amended to limit one Consumer Protection Act enforcement provision to the Attorney General, adjust coupon language, and restore state preemption; the bill passed 12-3. HB 1078 passed unanimously after a substitute addressing affiliated-company policy transfers for pet insurance. HB 1701 and HB 2207 each passed with one dissenting vote after substitutes revised liquor and beer warehousing provisions. HB 2501 passed unanimously as a technical update to the seller disclosure form. HB 2361, as amended to make inflation adjustments biennial and change reporting requirements, passed 13-2. HB 1932, creating a regulated cannabis consumption event license, passed 11-4 after debate over public consumption and cannabis policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• Applications for licensure are to be submitted to the LCB for approval, along with a $1,000 license and
• and certification: by January 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, kratom processors must certify to the LCB
• Each kratom product must have a certificate of analysis submitted to the LCB for approval.
• Beginning January 1, 2027, the LCB must make and maintain a publicly available online directory that
• The LCB is responsible for enforcing the act.

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2291, the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, and then moved into executive session on several bills. Staff explained that HB 2291 would license kratom retailers and processors, set age 21 purchase limits, require labeling, child-resistant packaging, independent testing, an LCB-approved product directory, and an 11% excise tax, while banning certain synthetic or adulterated kratom products and restricting online/mail sales and public consumption. The prime sponsor said the bill was intended to regulate natural kratom while banning the synthetic or chemically altered forms, and several witnesses supported stronger youth protections and product standards. Others opposed the bill’s licensing fee, statewide preemption of local bans, or the regulatory approach, while some testified that natural kratom helps with pain or recovery. The hearing on HB 2291 was then closed without action. In executive session, the committee took action on multiple bills. HB 2439, dealing with cigarette, vapor product, and tobacco product policy, was amended and reported out with a do pass recommendation; the adopted amendments limited Consumer Protection Act enforcement to the Attorney General, adjusted coupon language, and restored state preemption over local retail regulation. HB 1078 on pet insurance, HB 1701 on shared liquor-license premises, HB 2207 on bonded beer warehousing, and HB 2501 on real estate oil-tank disclosure were all reported out with do pass recommendations, with HB 1701’s substitute removing a Public Records Act exemption and HB 2207’s substitute aligning beer warehousing more closely with spirits warehouse rules. HB 2361, which raises the maximum small loan amount, was amended to make inflation adjustments biennial and to change publication requirements, then passed out of committee. The committee also approved HB 1932, which would authorize cannabis consumption events in regulated environments. The substitute bill would create a cannabis consumption event organizer license, allow limited adult-use events subject to local approval, and establish permit and budtender training requirements; members discussed the bill as a way to provide lawful consumption spaces while others objected to expanding cannabis access. In the final votes, HB 2439 passed 12-3, HB 1078 passed unanimously, HB 1701 passed 14-1, HB 2207 passed 14-1, HB 2501 passed unanimously, HB 2361 passed 13-2, and HB 1932 passed 11-4, all with do pass recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Wayne Thorley for the record, LCB Fiscal Analysis Division.
• Wayne Thorley for the record, LCB Fiscal Analysis Division.
• Wayne Thorley, for the record, LCB Fiscal Analysis Division.
• Wayne Thorley, for the record, LCB Fiscal Analysis Division.
• Wayne Thorley, for the record, LCB Fiscal Analysis Division.

Bills: AB49, AB93, AB108, AB169, AB188, AB212, AB221, AB224, AB251, AB282, AB284, AB296, AB304, AB331, AB356, AB366, AB375, AB409, AB467, AB475, AB476, AB479, AB494, AB514, AB515, AB533, AB542, AB550, AB558, AB567, AB568, AB571, AB581, AB583, AB584, AB585, AB595, AB596, AB597, SB170, SB427, SB460, SB508

Keywords: educational personnel, teacher licensing, reciprocal licensure, provisional teaching, school counselors, school nurses, school social workers, state education standards, public employees, police officers, benefits, appropriation, law enforcement, outdoor education, recreation, grant program, environment, funding, health insurance, speech-language pathology

Transcript Highlights:

• So next up is the report on the LCB cannabis market study. If you're ready, Mr.
• The data that LCB collects from cannabis licensees is incomplete and unreliable.
• The legislative auditor recommended that LCB should submit a plan to the appropriate committees of the
• LCB partially concurred with this recommendation.
• And I use the, process that we're going through at LCB.

Summary: The committee met on December 3, 2025, with a quorum present and approved the September 17 minutes. Members first voted to suspend the 2026 JLARC lodging tax expenditure report for one year, based on staff’s explanation that the report is self-reported, not verified, and less useful than State Auditor accountability audits; the motion passed. The committee also approved renaming the JLARC I-900 subcommittee to the “Committee to Hear SAO Performance Audits,” while keeping the opening script noting that the performance audit process exists under Initiative 900. The committee then heard follow-up updates on two prior performance audits. The Department of Health presented a draft strategic management plan in response to findings on hospital inspections, complaints, adverse event review, and hospital data access. JLARC staff reiterated that 72% of hospital inspections were late, that DOH did not verify third-party inspection standards or review adverse event reports, and that complaint data suggested possible language-access barriers. DOH said it concurred with the recommendations, had improved on-time inspection compliance to about 49%, planned annual updates starting in July 2026, and would work on accreditation oversight, complaint-language access, and data accessibility, though members pressed for firmer deadlines and questioned the three-year timeline for language access improvements. The Liquor and Cannabis Board also reported on its cannabis market study recommendation. JLARC staff said the agency’s data were incomplete and unreliable, limiting oversight of production, recalls, tax collection, and diversion. LCB said it had improved its current CCRS system but still relied on self-reported data, and it presented a decision package for a new traceability system estimated at about $9 million over three fiscal years. LCB described a plant-tagging and serialization approach tied to production, processing, testing, and retail, but acknowledged it did not currently have sufficient staff to fully implement the system without additional funding. The committee also received briefings on JLARC’s recommendation-tracking tools and the 2024 public records reporting summary, including a high-level review of agency response rates, request volumes, costs, and litigation. Finally, JLARC presented the proposed final report on the Office of Privacy and Data Protection, concluding that OPDP meets its statutory responsibilities and has high user satisfaction, but that its mandate should be updated to better match its current capacity and focus; the committee adopted the report for distribution. The meeting then moved into the 2025 tax preference performance reviews, where JLARC staff summarized nine reviews and noted that the Citizens Commission on Tax Preference and Performance Measurement endorsed all 17 legislative auditor recommendations, with comments on seven. Early reviews discussed included natural gas transportation fuel preferences, travel agent and tour operator B&O rates, nonprofit low-income housing development, multipurpose senior centers, disabled veteran adaptive housing, and trade convention attendance, with staff and commissioners generally recommending continuation of some preferences, modification of others, and improved objectives or performance measures where needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• State law and LCB rules limit the maximum amount of cannabis product that may be sold to a consumer in
• LCB rules establish traceability requirements for cannabis plants and products, and cannabis retailers
• LCB may not require a license to use this packaging option. Thank you. Are met.
• The bill requires LCB to adopt rules to allow cannabis concentrates and cannabis vapor products to be
• Senate Bill 6290 concerns the organization of LCB.

Summary: The committee heard several bills and took executive action on a number of them. Senate Bill 6282, by Senator Nobles, would require building and construction trade apprenticeship programs to provide two hours of behavioral health and wellness training starting in 2027, covering stigma reduction, distress recognition, suicide prevention, substance use awareness, peer support, and resource connection. The bill drew strong support from labor and construction groups, who described high suicide and substance use rates in the industry and said the training would help apprentices and, with a planned amendment, journey-level workers as well. No vote was taken in the hearing portion shown, but testimony was overwhelmingly pro. Senate Bill 6135, by Senator King, would require interest arbitration panels for certain uniform personnel at local governments to consider the employer’s ability to pay. Counties and cities supported the bill as a modest fiscal-relief measure and argued it would align local arbitration with existing state-law language. Teamsters representatives and other labor witnesses opposed it, saying it would weaken collective bargaining and give employers leverage to stall or deny fair contracts. The committee closed the public hearing with 5 in favor, 22 opposed, and no other testimony. In executive session, the bill was later advanced subject to signatures. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6128 on independent medical exams, which would require IME recordings to be made through an L&I-approved third-party app and prohibit independent local recording. Supporters said the change would improve security, consistency, and reliability of recordings and reduce cancellations and disputes; opponents said it would burden injured workers and undo the 2023 right to record IMEs on their own devices. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6068, which would make owners and direct contractors jointly liable for unpaid wages and related damages on construction projects, with a notice-and-cure process before suit. Workers and labor groups supported it as a tool against wage theft and labor trafficking, while contractors and industry groups opposed it as overbroad and costly. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6303 on cannabis packaging and vapor devices, with testimony split between sustainability advocates and industry supporters on one side and public health and poison center witnesses on the other, who warned that loosening individual edible packaging could increase child poisonings. In executive session, the committee adopted a substitute for SB 6053 and moved it forward, and also passed SB 6134, SB 6147, SB 6106, and SB 6045 subject to signatures, with SB 6045 amended before passage to Ways and Means.

Transcript Highlights:

• State law and LCB rules limit the maximum amount of cannabis product that may be sold to a consumer in
• LCB rules establish traceability requirements for cannabis plants and products, and cannabis retailers
• Turning to the bill, LCB must adopt rules to allow solid cannabis-infused products intended to be eaten
• The bill requires LCB to adopt rules to allow cannabis concentrates and cannabis vapor products to be
• Senate Bill 6290 concerns the organization of LCB.

Bills: SB6053, SB6134, SB6147, SB6106, SB6045, SB6135, SB6128, SB6282, SB6068, SB6303, SB6290

Keywords: SB 6053, domestic workers, domestic worker rights, labor protections, minimum wage, overtime, private household employment, nanny, home care worker, personal care provider, housekeeper, cleaner, cook, gardener, household manager, wage theft, retaliation, anti-discrimination, immigration status, privacy rights

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 6282, which would require building and construction apprenticeship programs to provide two hours of behavioral health and wellness training beginning in 2027. The sponsor and labor supporters said construction workers face elevated suicide and substance use risks and that the bill would help reduce stigma, improve peer support, and connect workers to resources. Testifiers from electrical workers, bricklayers, and building trades strongly supported the measure, describing it as an important first step and noting planned amendments to extend similar information through continuing education for journey-level workers. No vote was taken on this bill in the portion provided. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6135, which would require interest arbitration panels for most uniform personnel in cities, counties, and other local governments to consider the employer’s ability to pay. County and city associations supported the bill as a modest fiscal-relief measure and said it would align local arbitration with existing state law. Teamsters representatives and other labor witnesses opposed it, arguing it would weaken collective bargaining rights and let employers use financial hardship to delay or reduce fair contracts. The public hearing closed with a reported tally of 5 in favor and 22 opposed, and the bill was not advanced in the excerpt. In executive session, the committee acted on several bills. It adopted a proposed substitute for Senate Bill 6053 on domestic workers and then voted the bill do pass to Rules. It also passed Senate Bill 6134, which requires notice to striking workers about possible unemployment overpayment if they later receive retroactive wages. Senate Bill 6147 on grocery store closures in food deserts was sent to Ways and Means after members discussed the definition of “food desert” and concerns about the six-month notice requirement; the sponsor said the bill was still being refined. Senate Bill 6106, excluding Indian tribes from the Stable Act employer definition and protecting employee contact information from disclosure, also passed to Rules. For Senate Bill 6045 on agricultural employees and PERC jurisdiction, the committee adopted a Schoesler amendment requiring multilingual signage, then passed the amended bill to Ways and Means. The committee also heard extensive testimony on Senate Bill 6128 about using an L&I-approved third-party app to record independent medical exams, with supporters citing security and consistency and opponents saying it would burden injured workers and was unnecessary; and on Senate Bill 6068, which would expand contractor liability for unpaid construction wages, with workers and labor groups supporting stronger enforcement and contractors opposing broader liability. The hearing then moved to Senate Bill 6303 on cannabis packaging and vapor devices, where testimony was split between sustainability and industry supporters and public health opponents concerned about child poisonings and packaging changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• For the record, Cesar McGrow, Committee Policy Analyst, and as LCB nonpartisan staff, I cannot support
• To Assembly Member Roth, Julian King, LCB Research Division, for the record.
• Assembly Member Cole, Julian King, LCB Research Division, for the record.
• Assembly Member Cole, Julian King, LCB Research Division, for the record.
• Julian King, LCB Research Division, for the record.

Bills: SB60, SB85, SB323

Keywords: elderly, vulnerable persons, criminal penalties, theft, civil penalties, criminal justice reform, traffic stops, law enforcement, data recording, public safety, racial profiling, SB323, Nevada, Department of Corrections, offenders, inmates, incarcerated people, prison phone calls, free phone calls, family communication

Transcript Highlights:

• John Cusera, LCB Fiscal, for the record.
• Wayne Thorley for the record, LCB Fiscal Analysis Division.
• Wayne Thorley, LCB Fiscal Analysis Division.
• Wayne Thorley again for the record, LCB Fiscal Analysis Division.
• LCB Fiscal Analysis Division.

Bills: AB6, AB102, AB131, AB212, AB213, AB220, AB259, AB282, AB376, AB396, AB479, AB503, AB570, AB572, AB574, AB576, AB593, SB185, SB207, SB507, AB6

Keywords: fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, FASD, prenatal alcohol exposure, children's health, developmental disability, early intervention, treatment assistance, Aging and Disability Services Division, Department of Health and Human Services, Autism Treatment Assistance Program, public health, parent education, evidence-based treatment, Nevada NRS 427A, disability services, behavioral health, emergency medical services, ambulance, licensing, health district