Substitute House Bill No. 6865 proposes a comprehensive overhaul of various state laws, focusing on payment methods for state agencies, workforce development, criminal history record processes, and financial management related to cannabis. The bill allows state agencies to accept payments via credit and debit cards, with the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management authorized to impose service fees that must be disclosed to payors. It also modifies the structure of the Governor's Workforce Council, increasing its membership and ensuring representation from small businesses and community organizations. Additionally, the bill introduces a fee waiver for criminal history checks for individuals eligible for record erasure and establishes a new "social equity and innovation account" to replace the existing Social Equity and Innovation Fund, reallocating cannabis tax revenues to support equity initiatives.

Furthermore, the bill outlines significant changes to judicial compensation, with scheduled salary increases for various judicial positions starting in FY 27. It also creates two new funds related to cannabis: the Cannabis Prevention and Recovery Services Fund and the Cannabis Regulatory Fund, aimed at supporting substance abuse services and regulatory activities, respectively. The bill includes provisions for tax credits for cannabis retailers and specifies the allocation of tax revenues from cannabis-related activities. Overall, sHB6865 seeks to modernize state operations, enhance workforce development, and improve access to resources for businesses in disproportionately impacted areas, while ensuring transparency and accountability in financial management.

Statutes affected:
Governor's Bill: 1-1j, 12-39r, 14-11i, 51-193b, 31-3i, 9-218, 4-66k, 12-330ll, 4-66p, 4-66o, 5-141d
APP Joint Favorable Substitute: 1-1j, 12-39r, 14-11i, 51-193b, 31-3i, 51-47, 12-330ll
File No. 900: 1-1j, 12-39r, 14-11i, 51-193b, 31-3i, 51-47, 12-330ll