The Washington Legislature on Tuesday will convene a special session intended to reach a compromise on how the state should treat drug possession and substance use.
Called by Gov. Jay Inslee, the 30-day session comes after legislators failed to approve a proposed compromise for a new drug possession law to replace a temporary statute that is set to expire July 1. While they have 30 days to finish, they may adjourn sooner.
The work comes in response to a 2021 ruling by the Washington Supreme Court – known as the Blake decision – which struck down the state’s felony drug possession statute and invalidated a generation of criminal convictions and related penalties. Since then, legislators have tried to navigate a political landscape fractured over whether and how drug possession should be penalized, and how to boost treatment services for substance use.
That effort collapsed late last month at the end of the regularly scheduled legislative session, when the Democratic-controlled House failed to approve a proposed compromise, Senate Bill 5536.
As part of their attempts to get at a solution, lawmakers and Inslee have already budgeted more than $600 million in new statewide funding for treatment facilities and other behavioral health services, according to the governor’s office.
Lawmakers could wrap up the 30-day special session early if they reach a deal quickly, according to a statement earlier this month by the governor’s office.
“My office and I have been meeting with legislators from all four caucuses and I am very optimistic about reaching an agreement that can pass both chambers,” said Inslee in prepared remarks. “Cities and counties are eager to see a statewide policy that balances accountability and treatment, and I believe we can produce a bipartisan bill that does just that.”
Washington experienced 1,733 overdose deaths in 2020, according to federal government data. That’s an increase of almost 60% from the 1,094 such fatalities statewide in 2015.