House Speaker Mike Johnson has privately told members of the Republican caucus that he will not stand in the way of the SAFE Banking Act receiving a full House vote if a majority of House Republicans support advancing the measure, according to two House staffers who spoke with The Marijuana Herald.
According to the staffers, Johnson has made clear that he remains personally opposed to the marijuana banking legislation. However, he has also said that he would not use his position as speaker to block a floor vote if the measure has the backing of most GOP members.
The comments could be significant for the future of the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act of 2026, which was filed last week in both the House and Senate.
The House version was introduced by Congressmember Dave Joyce (R-OH), along with Congressmembers Jim Himes (D-CT), Warren Davidson (R-OH), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), Brian Mast (R-FL), Lou Correa (D-CA), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) and Dina Titus (D-NV).
In the Senate, the bill was filed by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), with Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Steve Daines (R-MT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) joining as original sponsors.
The legislation would prevent federal banking regulators from penalizing banks and other financial institutions for providing services to marijuana businesses operating legally under state law. Supporters argue the bill is needed because many marijuana retailers and related businesses remain cash-heavy due to federal marijuana prohibition, creating public safety risks and making it more difficult for operators to access loans, payment processing and basic banking services.
The House has approved versions of the SAFE Banking Act seven times in previous sessions, but the proposal has never been enacted into law and its never been passed while Republicans were in charge.
Johnson voted against the bill in both 2019 and 2021, when it passed the House with broad bipartisan support. Despite that record, the staffers said Johnson’s private comments suggest the bill’s path in the House may depend less on his personal position and more on whether supporters can demonstrate sufficient Republican backing.
No House vote has been scheduled, and it remains unclear whether a majority of House Republicans currently support the legislation. But the staffers said Johnson has told members that, if that threshold is met, he would not stop the bill from reaching the floor.
The Marijuana Herald verified that both sources work for members of the U.S. House of Representatives, but their claims could not be independently confirmed.
