OLYMPI, Wash. – A bill that would have increased the punishment for drug possession failed to pass in the final hours of the Washington State Legislative session on Sunday night, April 23rd.

Earlier versions of SB 5536 had passed in both the House and Senate, but a series of amendments were rejected by the House 55-43.

KIRO reports that many lawmakers who originally supported the measure did not support those additional amendments.

One of them would have nullified existing drug possession laws, such as one recently passed by the Bellingham City Council.

Late last week, a group of over two dozen mayors wrote to legislators asking them to reconsider the bill, saying it would make it more difficult for them to combat drug crimes.