Legislators continued work on the budget bill this week and considered other bills on various topics.

State Budget Bill

With the beginning of FY 23 on July 1 approaching, legislative appropriation leaders have been meeting behind closed doors working on the details of a state budget bill. If a new budget bill is enacted, it would alter the two-year budget (S.L. 2021-180) enacted in November 2021, which covered both FYs 22 and 23. It appears the bill will surface as a conference committee report that has been agreed to in advance by the two chambers and cannot be amended. Some legislative leaders have indicated that the bill could surface as early as the week of June 20.

Retail Theft

This week, the Senate unanimously passed a bill (S 766) that would increase penalties for criminals that run organized retail theft rings. It would provide additional penalties for damage to property or assault of a person during the commission of organized retail theft and regulate high-volume third-party sellers operating on online marketplaces. The bill is now in the House Rules Committee. A similar bill (H 1005) has passed the House and is pending in the Senate Rules Committee.

Medical Marijuana

This week, the Senate passed a bill (S 711) by a 36 to 7 margin that would authorize the use of marijuana for certain medical conditions. It is uncertain whether the House will consider it during this summer’s session.

Among other things, the bill would allow use by people with a certain listed “debilitating medical condition” for which a physician provides a written certification. The Department of Health and Human Services would approve use by patients and a newly created Medical Cannabis Production Commission would license suppliers upon recommendation of the Department.