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LCB staff warn budget crunch will force implementation without new resources after 2026 session
Summary
Agency staff told the Liquor and Cannabis Board Executive Management Team that a tighter revenue outlook and committee restructuring in Olympia mean many bills passed without funding for implementation, leaving the board to carry out new duties with existing resources.
The Liquor and Cannabis Board's executive staff warned the board on April 8 that the 2026 legislative session and the approaching 2027 biennium leave the agency facing a constrained budget and limited capacity to implement newly passed laws.
"We're going to have to be implementing without new resources," said Mark, the staff member who briefed the board on the session and biennium context. He told the board the current biennium was "defined by a revenue crunch," and that the legislature was scrutinizing — and in many cases killing — bills with implementation costs.
Mark described a structural change at the Legislature that moved regulated-substance work into broader Consumer Protection and Business committees, reducing dedicated floor time for alcohol- and cannabis-specific bills. He said that procedural consolidation, paired with weaker revenue forecasts, reduced opportunities to amend bills in committee and contributed to fewer policy wins for stakeholders.
Board members asked whether the agency should advance its own agency-request legislation earlier to give stakeholders more time; Mark said staff divisions are preparing proposals and that the agency plans to vet ideas with leadership in the coming weeks so they can be refined over the summer.
The staff briefing also noted the next budget forecast is due in June and that expectations are not positive, meaning the agency may need to prioritize implementation tasks within existing appropriations. The board offered no immediate policy decisions and moved on to other agenda items.
