[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6380640,"mediaKeyId","2130337-a158e7ae1182af5cbd90177c32bb011a","parentId",2130337,"title","Bill would restrict high‑concentration sodium nitrite sales after families link product to youth suicides","audioSeconds",1929,"startMs",1033000,"endMs",2962000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2130337-a158e7ae1182af5cbd90177c32bb011a&start=1033&end=2962","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2130337-a158e7ae1182af5cbd90177c32bb011a/thumbnail_1033000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6380640/Washington/Bill-would-restrict-highconcentration-sodium-nitrite-sales-after-families-link-product-to-youth-suicides","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6380640-7b1319b7a84914714410888502454440/orig.mp4?Expires=1770390551&Signature=ScC33K~iEXxUV75ltcZvQRykGwi7iLZ0Wqjyb1~B7vRWysFHZealJUJtC8N4YR36MHRgBGbyGpKHDmUIAYQrXPfThZDY~DwYkGWX0CPXP23MiIIsxX5iEnsRUSVjmOUXMdmcjY1r8pKKiIt3ZzHgO~-PgVFSj~YEguldL~TWKtUW0MIHN0awxKZISiwUF6NUERM2i9qvK5K64jyaOMdUeVBE3o3YU9C8AwcZC6g4Ntni66bKwnMhCuhJdKSkBYo8uf2fk3gglJdn4zOhXv-Zr-VGZgbogjJFExYOms3E0zGazbh6a6QRCn9wle5OWSuxKzItZ25SEA~5u0SDNKLqjw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","House Consumer Protection & Business","date","2025-01-17T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Charlotte Mena opened a public hearing on House Bill 1209, which would restrict sales and transfers of high‑concentration sodium nitrite and require warning labels, sales verification for commercial buyers and recordkeeping.

Committee staff Peter Klotfelter summarized the proposal: products with sodium nitrite above 10% mass or volume could not be sold except to verified commercial businesses or institutions that affirm they require the product and provide an employer identification number. Sellers would need systems to verify business purchasers, packages would require a standardized danger warning, covered entities must keep sales records for three years, and civil penalties would range from $10,000 for a first violation up to $1,000,000 for a second. The bill also creates a private right of action and makes violations actionable under the Consumer Protection Act.

Sponsor Charlotte Mena framed the bill as urgent and urged passage after describing what she said were at least 30 young people who purchased sodium nitrite online and used it to die by suicide. \"Unless the legislature acts, there is nothing that prevents the sale of sodium nitrate at lethal concentrations,\" Mena said, and described the risks of concentrated product being marketed online.

Several family members and attorneys testified about individual losses and about online availability. Michelle Vasquez Stickley, whose 15‑year‑old son died after purchasing sodium nitrite online, described how a package arrived at home and was readily accessible to her son; she asked lawmakers to prioritize \"lives over profits.\" Attorney Carrie Goldberg, who represents multiple families in litigation, said sales on large online marketplaces spiked after online forums identified the chemical as a lethal suicide method.

Mental‑health organizations supported the bill as a lethal‑means reduction measure. Anna Nepomaceno, director of public policy for NAMI Washington, cited state youth suicide statistics and said that rapid lethality after ingestion leaves too little time for rescue.

Business groups and trade associations said they generally support restricting household access but asked for practical changes. The Association of Washington Business and the Washington Retail Association supported the policy goals while requesting a private‑right‑to‑cure provision and expressing concerns about private enforcement and impacts on small retailers.

The committee did not take a final vote. Sponsors and stakeholders discussed technical drafting and enforcement pathways; committee members asked staff and witnesses for data on seller platforms and distribution channels. The hearing record includes substantial personal testimony from impacted families and legal counsel urging passage.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Consumer Protection & Business - 1/17/2025 8:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Representative Charlotte Mena opened a public hearing on House Bill 1209, which would restrict sales and transfers of high‑concentration sodium nitrite and require warning labels, sales verification for commercial buyers and recordkeeping.","taxTitle","Consumer Protection & Business, House of Representatives, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20258,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6380645,"Bill would bar insurers from canceling pet policies because animals age or develop conditions",3026,2000,3028000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2130337-a158e7ae1182af5cbd90177c32bb011a&start=2&end=3028","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2130337-a158e7ae1182af5cbd90177c32bb011a/thumbnail_2000.jpg","/articles/6380645/Washington/Bill-would-bar-insurers-from-canceling-pet-policies-because-animals-age-or-develop-conditions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6380645-cac47ce35926f006291dbda4f0cba06b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770390551&Signature=kjBrqqrrmWzUU173t1TVfyHZhzDkarvwYno5uxoy-PU2IkNxlUIvx9oZvtNjzc9Pf2nSKMUdvXHWKCjnfH80896crGdB4UTQWrrKgqqHNXMCoTbwtKviLnUAsIL2hO7J7mY5CjJjbEabZkiSLciwU-uTioC2Rk8nctTECmfAulH~7WnOhkf6DbGDt9woLjKGf-LFySZ6Dwlczy9WBdDU-RAw7nJebSscQty763hZA8qdvEVSQV~5WbFJMqv4JnACVbEwk1KMOKfwp5jwW~RfTA-cZcd~TuT4VwuJnB4XuSDLIi0TD5fQAYbkbau--p4AjmfjhDAzNLpJ-xC2ZY-JNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Amy Wallen on Friday opened a public hearing on House Bill 1078, a proposal that would bar pet insurers from canceling or refusing to renew a policy because a covered animal ages or develops a health condition during a policy term.

Megan Movahel, staff to the Consumer Protection & Business Committee, told the committee that current state law now regulates pet insurance as a property-and-casualty product and that last year’s changes required certain consumer disclosures and unified definitions such as preexisting condition. \"Pet insurance covers unexpected veterinarian visits and accidents, illnesses, emergencies, and surgeries for family owned pets,\" Movahel said during her briefing.

Wallen, the bill’s prime sponsor, said the measure expands last year’s consumer protections by preventing insurers from ejecting customers who pay premiums when a pet later develops an expensive illness or condition. \"I think pet insurance is actually companion animal insurance and is needed as a public health issue,\" Representative Amy Wallen said, noting constituents who rely on companion animals for everyday tasks.

Officials from the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) expressed strong support for the bill’s goal but flagged technical issues for further work. Rory Payne Donovan, legislative director at OIC, praised the bill’s clarity about insurer obligations while offering to help with technical language. David Fort of the OIC confirmed that nothing in the current draft would prohibit insurers from raising rates at renewal: \"There's nothing in the bill that would prohibit a rate change,\" he said when asked whether an insurer could increase premiums for a renewal if a condition developed during a policy term.

Industry representatives asked the committee to consider a clarifying amendment for cases in which a significant preexisting condition was not disclosed at the time of application. John Fielding, representing the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, urged adoption of language to address undisclosed conditions that some carriers said could justify different underwriting treatment.

No formal committee action or vote was recorded during the hearing. The committee suspended the HB 1078 public hearing earlier in the day and later resumed public testimony; members said they will continue technical discussions with OIC and industry stakeholders before any bill move.

The public hearing included testimony from pet owners describing premium increases and reliance on coverage for ongoing treatment, and from insurers and trade groups seeking clarifications about actuarial practices and preexisting-condition rules. The committee did not take final action at the hearing and left the bill as a work in progress.","Representative Amy Wallen on Friday opened a public hearing on House Bill 1078, a proposal that would bar pet insurers from canceling or refusing to renew a policy because a covered animal ages or develops a health condition during a policy term.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6380635,"Proposal would move cannabis production and testing licensing to Department of Agriculture; agencies disagree on timing and costs",2212,3464000,5676000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2130337-a158e7ae1182af5cbd90177c32bb011a&start=3464&end=5676","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2130337-a158e7ae1182af5cbd90177c32bb011a/thumbnail_3464000.jpg","/articles/6380635/Washington/Proposal-would-move-cannabis-production-and-testing-licensing-to-Department-of-Agriculture-agencies-disagree-on-timing-and-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6380635-0dd2a246debde21507a3f792ecd30578/orig.mp4?Expires=1770390551&Signature=kKwQrErCRLJFtPGfvju0xv4jyOB1fMIO0xGrv2ndgYannT5dqcUSRAdaOLtLGrjD406Mz--CMxFbBaLGp0vjV~6zCicTNzeJ-rMAkuvP-gwwCTcJhyv7VYgl9kcqmv0zJs3qveUE9dJGzfT5i4VkCg84MkqyDu9Khs~-5GARS0GTUOOoB3Tqetg0MCfycoanGxI4v-Y9r4sLLykS4Ws5Y3lAbHqf0NuQtZg7joCcXIAhIVpvsrJJOCnOL8~4FyTQN6F4IKsBXI1soGQK0BYK8lNrHSDff8okaE~RcOJLMTdKUiiMXQXeXmNhnIfj7CcuC0Bo-9zC3XHfNibclobeaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Christine Reeves on Friday sponsored House Bill 1067, a proposal to transfer licensing and regulatory authority for cannabis production, processing and testing from the Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) to the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA).

Committee staff summarized the bill’s scope: it would move LCB powers, duties and records related to production, processing and testing to WSDA; transfer relevant appropriations on July 1, 2026; and continue pending LCB rules and enforcement actions while WSDA stood up the program. The bill would take effect July 1, 2025 with a phased transfer of resources and licensing authorities over the following year.

Sponsor Christine Reeves said the transfer would align cannabis cultivation with other agricultural regulation and argued WSDA’s commodity‑focused approach could create efficiencies. \"The Department of Agriculture does a very effective job at regulating grapes for wine, potatoes for vodka, hops for beer,\" Reeves said, framing the change as a fit with other crop regulation.

The Liquor and Cannabis Board opposed immediate transfer, citing structural impediments including federal illegality of cannabis and statutory distinctions that treat cannabis differently from other agricultural products. Mark Webster of LCB warned that some contractors and federal funding arrangements used by WSDA might be affected if WSDA assumed broader cannabis responsibilities. \"There are some pretty big structural impediments in the way,\" Webster said.

WSDA staff welcomed conversations but flagged implementation timeline and cost concerns. Kelly McClain, assistant director and cannabis policy adviser at WSDA, told the committee standing up a new program would be expensive and operationally difficult on the bill’s proposed timetable; preliminary estimates cited in the hearing suggested first‑year costs around $10 million and multi‑year costs approaching $30 million, with ongoing biennial costs of roughly $13.4 million. WSDA also cautioned about potential risks to federal delegated programs if the agency assumed expanded cannabis regulation while the substance remains federally controlled.

Industry groups and craft producers broadly supported the transfer in testimony, saying agriculture expertise better matches cultivation issues and can help prepare for possible future federal legalization. Equity and industry advocates urged placing cultivation and processing with an agency that focuses on agricultural supports and technical assistance.

The committee took no final action. Members pressed agencies on traceability, implementation timing, and the legal relationship between state regulation and federal funding; staff and stakeholders were asked to provide follow‑up details and cost information.","House Bill 1067 would transfer licensing and regulation of cannabis production, processing and testing from the Liquor and Cannabis Board to the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Proponents said agriculture is the appropriate home for cultivation oversight; the Liquor and Cannabis Board and WSDA flagged federal legality, implementation,","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bill would restrict high‑concentration sodium nitrite sales after families link product to youth suicides

Bill would bar insurers from canceling pet policies because animals age or develop conditions

Proposal would move cannabis production and testing licensing to Department of Agriculture; agencies disagree on timing and costs