Dear Friends and Neighbors, 

We’re 25% done with this Legislative Session and things are moving at a quick pace, to say the least! I am thrilled to share more on two of my bills that have passed out of committee – and three are scheduled to be voted on in committee this week. One of the most important parts of my job is informing you about what we’re working on in Olympia—and hearing from you about what’s important to you. Listen to my podcast episode to learn about some of the things I’ve been working on—and read on for an invitation to an upcoming Town Hall where I can hear more from you.  

This year, I am honored to have once again been chosen by my colleagues to chair the Regulated Substances and Gaming Committee, this year alongside Co-Chair Sharon Wylie. I have invested considerable time and effort over the last six years to understand the variety of opinions stakeholders have on the subject matters under consideration by this committee. I’ll continue to champion research into the benefits and harms of cannabis, patient access, and evolving our cannabis regulations. Here’s a look at some of the bills we’re working on in this committee and beyond:  

HB 1563 provides criminal and civil protections for patients and providers who have a valid authorization for the medical use of cannabis.  

HB 1105 requires that when public agencies are required by law to have a specified written public comment period, they must provide notice for public comment that includes the last day of the submission period. Public comment and public access to the government are integral to democracy and the legislative process. When the final day to submit public comment is omitted, people interested in sharing their voice don’t necessarily know how long they have to do so—without a clearly labeled timeline, people don’t have the adequate time or resources to coalesce their thoughts and share their advocacy, feedback, and stories. 

If you haven’t already, watch video here to learn more 

HB 1614: Cannabis is a plant, and you can buy products made from it in a store for consumption, just like fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Making it illegal to grow at home just doesn’t make sense. That’s why I’ve sponsored legislation to allow the cultivation of up to six cannabis plants for personal use by residents 21 and older. Although Washington was one of the first in the nation to legalize cannabis, we didn’t include homegrow provisions. There are 17 states who legalized cannabis after us who do allow growing it at home. Cultivation would need to be hidden from public view and not readily smelled—and property owners could additionally prohibit homegrow by renters—but this bill is about opening and expanding personal use. Provide comment on this bill here. 

HB 1596 provides local governments with options to increase affordable housing by establishing Affordable Housing Exemption Programs to exempt accessory dwelling units from property taxes if rented to very low-income households. Provide comment on this bill here.  

HB 1437 enacts the Interstate Massage Compact, allowing the DOH to issue a massage therapy license to an applicant in another state if the other state’s examination and educational requirements are substantially equivalent to Washington’s. We’re facing a workforce shortage in all sectors, and it can take people months to get appointments with specialty care providers. As a former licensed massage therapist for over 20 years, I was excited about the potential for this bill. While this bill was scheduled for vote on January 31, no action was taken, and this bill will not advance this session. I worked with massage therapists and while they support the general idea, the devil is in the details. There were several elements that need to change, and I have committed to the industry that we will continue to work on this over the interim.

We’re so excited to be operating in-person again, and to be able to offer the opportunity for young people to come to Olympia and assist in the legislative process. Because many young people did not have an opportunity to participate during COVID, this year, our page program is open to youth ages 14-18. I invite you to apply!  

To help lower-income families participate in the program, the House of Representatives created the Gina Grant Bull Scholarship; check out the FAQ page to see if you can apply. Taking part in the page program is a great opportunity for young people to gain a unique perspective of the legislative process. If you have a teen who could benefit from this experience, I encourage you to consider sending them to Olympia for a week. For more information, please visit the House Page Program website.  

Join me and my 1st LD seatmates, Senator Stanford and Representative Duerr, for a Town Hall on Sunday, March 19, from 1-2:30 PM at Cascadia College, Mobius Hall. Stay tuned for more details! 

If you’d like to get in touch but can’t participate in the Town Hall, please feel free to email me at shelley.kloba@leg.wa.gov, or come stop by my office in Olympia. I hope to hear from you soon. 

Sincerely,  

Rep. Shelley Kloba