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Board advances social‑equity rulemaking, adjusts scoring rubric for SB 5080
Summary
The board approved filing a CR 102 to implement SB 5080 and discussed rubric changes including keeping DIA residency points, prioritizing cannabis convictions, doubling household‑income points from 15 to 30, and allowing registrant portal use and relocation options for qualifying applicants.
The Liquor and Cannabis Board on July 31 approved filing a CR 102 to implement Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5080 and made targeted changes to the proposed social‑equity scoring rubric.
Justin Nordhorn, policy and external affairs director, told the board the CR 102 will amend WAC 314‑55‑570 to reflect statutory changes and procedural updates required by SB 5080. He said LCB contracted Whitney Economics to provide county threshold analysis and that those thresholds will be reviewed every three years beginning in 2029 to inform applicants about potentially viable license counts by county.
Nordhorn summarized outreach and feedback: an initial survey generated 73 responses, later outreach produced 242 valid survey responses in July, and two May engagement sessions informed multiple revisions. Based on feedback, staff proposed several rubric changes: keeping a 1‑to‑5‑year DIA (disproportionately impacted area) residency band as a scoring category even though it is not a statutory qualifier, prioritizing cannabis‑specific offenses for higher points while lowering points for non‑cannabis drug offenses, and doubling household‑income points from 15 to 30 after respondents said the initial level was too low. Nordhorn said the registry will allow prospective applicants to register through an online portal, be evaluated by a third‑party contractor, and—if they receive a qualifying score—be invited to submit a full application.
Board members asked whether LCB could defer issuing producer licenses if Whitney’s market analysis suggested oversupply; Nordhorn said the statute requires that the agency open application windows but staff will provide projections for applicants to consider. After discussion the board moved, seconded and approved the CR 102 to proceed to a public comment period and hearing on Sept. 11.
Public commenters during the meeting raised concerns about fairness and prior licensing decisions; several speakers later questioned whether the social‑equity process had treated Black entrepreneurs fairly and alleged conflicts in third‑party scoring and vendor selection.
