In the final moments, she said, the bill lost a great deal of its Democratic supporters before Tuesday’s key deadline to advance out of the chamber.
House Majority Leader Rep.
“Whiteness is raceless.
The substitute also cut the social equity grant and low-interest loan fund from $22.5 million to $3 million, though it kept a $1.1 million technical assistance program to help applicants navigate the process.
More importantly in the eyes of the NAACP and the WSAACA, the substitute bill removed a mobility clause they say was instrumental in equitably distributing the 39 retail licenses the state’s Liquor and Cannabis Board currently has available.
According to the NAACP and the WSAACA, a license mobility provision would allow the other 37 retailers to open anywhere in the state.
HB 2022 faced an uphill battle as it quickly lost most of its Democratic support.