Senate permanent rules

BE IT RESOLVED, That the Rules of the Senate for the 2023 Regular 1
Session of the 68th Legislature, as amended in the 2023 Regular 2
Session and the 2024 Regular Session, be adopted as amended as the 3
Rules of the Senate for the 2025 Regular Session of the 69th 4
Legislature, to read as follows: 5
PERMANENT RULES6
OF THE7
SENATE8
((SIXTY-EIGHTH)) SIXTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE9
((2023)) 202510
11
12
SECTION I - OFFICERS-MEMBERS-EMPLOYEES

13 Rule 1 Duties of the President
14 Rule 2 President Pro Tempore
15 Rule 3 Secretary of the Senate
16 Rule 4 Sergeant at Arms
17 Rule 5 Subordinate Officers
18 Rule 6 Employees
19
20
Rule 7 Conduct of Members and Officers

SENATE RESOLUTION
8603
By Senators Riccelli and Short
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1
2
SECTION II - OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT

3 Rule 8 Facilities and Operations
4 Rule 9 Use of Senate Chambers
5 Rule 10 Admission to the Senate
6 Rule 11 ENGROSSED Printing of Bills
7 Rule 12 Furnishing Full File of Bills
8 Rule 13 Regulation of Lobbyists
9
10
Rule 14 Security Management

11
12
SECTION III - RULES AND ORDER

13 Rule 15 Time of Convening
14 Rule 16 Quorum
15 Rule 17 Order of Business
16 Rule 18 Special Order
17 Rule 19 Unfinished Business
18 Rule 20 Motions and Senate Floor Resolutions (How Presented)
19 Rule 21 Precedence of Motions
20 Rule 22 V oting
21 Rule 23 Announcement of V ote
22 Rule 24 Call of the Senate
23 Rule 25 One Subject in a Bill
24 Rule 26 No Amendment by Mere Reference to Title of Act
25 Rule 27 Reading of Papers
26
27
Rule 28 Comparing Enrolled and Engrossed Bills

28
29
SECTION IV - PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

30 Rule 29 Rules of Debate
31 Rule 30 Recognition by the President
32 Rule 31 Call for Division of a Question
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1 Rule 32 Point of Order - Decision Appealable
2 Rule 33 Question of Privilege
3 Rule 34 Protests
4 Rule 35 Suspension of Rules
5 Rule 36 Previous Question
6 Rule 37 Reconsideration
7 Rule 38 Motion to adjourn
8 Rule 39 Yeas and Nays - When Must be Taken
9
10
Rule 40 Reed's Parliamentary Rules

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12
SECTION V - COMMITTEES

13 Rule 41 Committees - Appointment and Confirmation
14 Rule 42 Subcommittees
15 Rule 43 Subpoena Power
16 Rule 44 Duties of Committees
17 Rule 45 Committee Rules
18 Rule 46 Committee Meetings During Sessions
19 Rule 47 Reading of Reports
20 Rule 48 Recalling Bills from Committees
21 Rule 49 Bills Referred to Rules Committee
22 Rule 50 Rules Committee
23 Rule 51 Employment Committee
24 Rule 52 Committee of the Whole
25
26
Rule 53 Appropriation Budget Bills

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28
SECTION VI - BILLS, RESOLUTIONS, MEMORIALS AND GUBERNATORIAL APPOINTMENTS

29 Rule 54 Definitions
30 Rule 55 Prefiling
31 Rule 56 Introduction of Bills
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1 Rule 57 Amendatory Bills
2 Rule 58 Joint Resolutions and Memorials
3 Rule 59 Senate Concurrent Resolutions
4 Rule 60 Committee Bills
5 Rule 61 Committee Reference
6 Rule 62 Reading of Bills
7 Rule 63 First Reading
8 Rule 64 Second Reading/Amendments
9 Rule 65 Third Reading
10 Rule 66 Scope and Object of Bill Not to be Changed
11 Rule 67 Matter Related to Disagreement Between the Senate and House
12 Rule 68 Bills Committed for Special Amendment
13 Rule 69 Confirmation of Gubernatorial Appointees
14 Rule 70 Emergency Resolution Authorized
SECTION I15
OFFICERS-MEMBERS-EMPLOYEES16
Duties of the President17
Rule 1. 1. The president shall take the chair and call the 18
senate to order precisely at the hour appointed for meeting, 19
and, if a quorum be present, shall cause the journal of the 20
preceding day to be read. (See also Art. 3, Sec. 16, State 21
Constitution.) 22
2. The president shall preserve order and decorum, and in 23
case of any disturbance or disorderly conduct within the 24
chamber, legislative area, legislative offices or buildings, and 25
legislative hearing and meeting rooms, shall order the sergeant 26
at arms to suppress the same, and may order the arrest of any 27
person creating any disturbance within the senate chamber. 28
Cellular phone use within the senate chamber during floor 29
session and within a hearing room during a committee hearing 30
must be respectful to the members and the public and the phone 31
must be kept in silent mode within the senate chamber during 32
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floor session and within a hearing room during a committee 1
hearing. 2
3. The president shall have charge of and see that all 3
officers and employees perform their respective duties, and 4
shall have general control of the senate chamber and wings. (See 5
also Art. 2, Sec. 10, State Constitution.) 6
4. The president may speak to points of order in preference 7
to members, arising from the president's seat for that purpose, 8
and shall decide all questions of order subject to an appeal to 9
the senate by any member, on which appeal no member shall speak 10
more than once without leave of the senate. 11
5. The president shall, in open session, sign all acts, 12
addresses and joint resolutions. The president shall sign all 13
writs, warrants and subpoenas issued by order of the senate, all 14
of which shall be attested by the secretary. If the senate is 15
operating in a remote format under the authority of Senate Rule 16
70, an electronic or scanned signature is authorized in place of 17
a physical signature. (See also Art. 2, Sec. 32, State 18
Constitution.) 19
6. The president shall appoint all conference, special, 20
joint and hereinafter named standing committees on the part of 21
the senate. The appointment of the conference, special, joint 22
and standing committees shall be confirmed by the senate. In the 23
event the senate refuses to confirm any conference, special, 24
joint or standing committee or committees, such committee or 25
committees shall be elected by the senate. 26
7. The president shall, on each day, announce to the senate 27
the business in order, and no business shall be taken up or 28
considered until the order to which it belongs shall be 29
declared. 30
8. The president shall decide and announce the result of any 31
vote taken. 32
9. When a vote of the senate is equally divided, the 33
lieutenant governor, when presiding, shall have the deciding 34
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vote as provided for in the state Constitution. (See also Art. 1
2, Sec. 10 and 22, State Constitution.) 2
President Pro Tempore3
Rule 2. 1. Upon the organization of the senate the members 4
shall elect one of their number as president pro tempore who 5
shall have all the powers and authority and who shall discharge 6
all the duties of lieutenant governor acting as president when 7
the secretary of the senate receives notice that the lieutenant 8
governor is unable to preside or is unable to confirm the 9
lieutenant governor's availability within a reasonable time. The 10
president pro tempore shall serve as the vice chair of the 11
committee on rules. The senate shall also elect at least one 12
vice president pro tempore who will serve in the absence of the 13
lieutenant governor and the president pro tempore. (See Art. 2, 14
Sec. 10, State Constitution.) 15
2. In the absence of the president pro tempore, and vice 16
president pro tempore, or with their consent, the president 17
shall have the right to name any senator to perform the duties 18
of the chair, but such substitution shall not extend beyond an 19
adjournment, nor authorize the senator so substituted to sign 20
any documents requiring the signature of the president.21
Secretary of the Senate22
Rule 3. 1. The senate shall elect a secretary, who shall 23
appoint a deputy secretary, both of whom shall be officers of 24
the senate and shall perform the usual duties pertaining to 25
their offices, and they shall hold office until their successors 26
have been elected or appointed. 27
2. The secretary is the Personnel Officer of the senate and 28
shall appoint, subject to the approval of the senate, all other 29
senate employees and the hours of duty and assignments of all 30
senate employees shall be under the secretary's directions and 31
instructions and they may be dismissed at the secretary's 32
discretion. 33
3. The secretary of the senate, prior to the convening of 34
the next regular session, shall prepare the office to receive 35
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bills which the holdover members and members-elect may desire to 1
prefile commencing with the first Monday in December preceding 2
any regular session or twenty days prior to any special session 3
of the legislature. 4
Sergeant at Arms5
Rule 4. 1. The director of senate security shall perform the 6
functions of the sergeant at arms for the senate. 7
2. The sergeant at arms shall not admit to the floor of the 8
senate during the time the senate is not convened any person 9
other than specifically requested in writing by a senator, the 10
president, or the secretary of the senate, or when personally 11
accompanied by a senator. 12
Subordinate Officers13
Rule 5. The subordinate officers of the senate shall perform 14
such duties as usually pertain to their respective positions in 15
legislative bodies under the direction of the president, and 16
such other duties as the senate may impose upon them. Under no 17
circumstances shall the compensation of any employee be 18
increased for past services. (See also Art. 2, Sec. 25, State 19
Constitution.) 20
Employees21
Rule 6. 1. No senate employee shall lobby in favor of or 22
against any matter under consideration. 23
2. Senate employees are governed by joint rules and chapters 24
42.17 (the Public Disclosure Act) and 42.52 RCW (the Ethics in 25
Public Service Act). 26
Conduct of Members and Officers27
Rule 7. 1. Indecorous conduct, boisterous or unbecoming 28
language will not be permitted in the senate at any time. Food 29
is prohibited within the senate chamber during floor session. 30
Cellular phone use within the senate chamber during floor 31
session and within a hearing room during a committee hearing 32
must be respectful to the members and the public and the phone 33
must be kept in silent mode within the senate chamber during 34
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floor session and within a hearing room during a committee 1
hearing. 2
2. In cases of breach of decorum or propriety, any senator, 3
officer or other person shall be liable to such censure or 4
punishment as the senate may deem proper, and if any senator be 5
called to order for offensive or indecorous language or conduct, 6
the person calling the senator to order shall report the 7
language excepted to which shall be taken down or noted at the 8
secretary's desk. No member shall be held to answer for any 9
language used upon the floor of the senate if business has 10
intervened before exception to the language was thus taken and 11
noted. 12
3. If any senator in speaking, or otherwise, transgresses 13
the rules of the senate, the president shall, or any senator 14
may, call that senator to order, and a senator so called to 15
order shall resume the senator's seat and not proceed without 16
leave of the senate, which leave, if granted, shall be upon 17
motion "that the senator be allowed to proceed in order," when, 18
if carried, the senator shall speak to the question under 19
consideration. 20
4. No senator shall be absent from the senate without leave, 21
except in case of accident or sickness, and if any senator or 22
officer shall be absent the senator's per diem shall not be 23
allowed or paid, and no senator or officer shall obtain leave of 24
absence or be excused from attendance without the consent of a 25
majority of the members present. 26
5. Members of the senate are subject to the senate's policy 27
on appropriate workplace conduct. Conduct in violation of the 28
policy may result in disciplinary action. 29
6. In the event of a motion or resolution to censure or 30
punish, or any procedural motion thereto involving a senator, 31
that senator shall not vote thereon. The senator shall be 32
allowed to answer to such motion or resolution. An election or 33
vote by the senate on a motion to censure or punish a senator 34
shall require the vote of a majority of all senators elected or 35
appointed to the senate. A vote to expel a member shall require 36
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a two-thirds concurrence of all members elected or appointed to 1
the senate. All votes shall be taken by yeas and nays and the 2
votes shall be entered upon the journal. (See also Art. 2, Sec. 3
9, State Constitution.) 4
SECTION II5
OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT6
Facilities and Operations7
Rule 8. 1. After the election of new caucus leadership at 8
the beginning of the first regular session during a legislative 9
biennium, the majority caucus shall designate four members and 10
the minority caucus shall designate three members to serve on 11
the facilities and operations committee. Each caucus may also 12
designate an alternate. The chair of the facilities and 13
operations committee must be selected by a majority vote of the 14
members of the committee. If a different caucus becomes the 15
majority caucus anytime during the legislative biennium, the 16
operation of the senate shall transfer to the newly designated 17
members after the leadership of the new majority caucus is 18
determined. 19
2. All necessary expenses of the senate incurred during the 20
session shall be signed for by the secretary and approved by a 21
majority of the committee on facilities and operations. The 22
committee on facilities and operations shall carefully consider 23
all items of expenditure ordered or contracted on the part of 24
the senate, and report upon the same prior to the voucher being 25
signed by the secretary of the senate authorizing the payment 26
thereof. The committee on facilities and operations shall issue 27
postage only as follows: 28
(a) To elected or appointed members of the senate in an 29
amount sufficient to allow performance of their legislative 30
duties. 31
(b) To the secretary of the senate in an amount sufficient 32
to carry out the business of the senate. 33
3. The facilities and operations committee is authorized to 34
adopt respectful workplace policies. 35
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4. The facilities and operations committee may determine the 1
rules by which an individual senator may vote on the floor using 2
a remote access program established by the secretary of the 3
senate. A maximum of six members, three from each caucus, are 4
permitted to vote remotely under this rule during any single day 5
of floor action in the event of illness or emergency. The leader 6
of each caucus may approve up to three members from his or her 7
respective caucus and must give notice to the secretary of the 8
senate of which members are authorized to participate remotely 9
at least two hours prior to the convening of the floor action. 10
Members authorized to participate remotely under this rule may 11
participate in debate according to the provisions of Senate Rule 12
29 but may not make motions or points of order during floor 13
action. The remote access program must meet the requirements of 14
Senate Rule 70. 15
Use of Senate Chambers16
Rule 9. The senate chamber and its facilities shall not be 17
used for any but legislative business, except by permission of 18
the senate while in session, or by the facilities and operations 19
committee when not in session. 20
Admission to the Senate21
Rule 10. The sergeant at arms shall admit only the following 22
individuals to the floor and adjacent areas of the senate for 23
the period of time beginning one-half hour before convening and 24
ending when the senate has adjourned or recessed for an hour or 25
more: 26
The governor and/or designees, 27
Members of the house of representatives, 28
State elected officials, 29
Officers and authorized employees of the legislature,30
Honored guests being presented to the senate, 31
Former members of the senate who are not registered 32
lobbyists pursuant to chapter 42.17 RCW, 33
Representatives of the press, 34
Persons specifically requested by a senator to the president 35
in writing or only as long as accompanied by a senator.36
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Printing of Bills1
Rule 11. The number of bills printed and reprinted shall be 2
at the discretion of the secretary of the senate, with the 3
approval of the facilities and operations committee.4
Furnishing Full File of Bills5
Rule 12. Persons, firms, corporations and organizations 6
within the state, desirous of receiving copies of all printed 7
senate bills, shall make application therefor to the secretary 8
of the senate. The bill clerk shall send copies of all printed 9
senate bills to such persons, firms, corporations and 10
organizations as may be ordered by the secretary of the senate. 11
The secretary of the senate is authorized to recoup costs.12
Regulation of Lobbyists13
Rule 13. All persons who engage in lobbying of any kind as 14
defined in chapter 42.17 RCW are subject to the senate's policy 15
on appropriate workplace conduct. Conduct that constitutes 16
prohibited conduct under the policy may result in restrictions, 17
including, but not limited to, prohibitions on unaccompanied 18
movement within the senate. 19
Any person registered as a lobbyist pursuant to chapter 20
42.17 RCW who intervenes in or attempts to influence any 21
personnel decision of the senate regarding any employee may 22
suffer an immediate revocation of all privileges before the 23
senate or such other privileges and for such time as may be 24
deemed appropriate by the senate committee on rules. This 25
restriction shall not prohibit a registered lobbyist from making 26
written recommendations for staff positions. 27
Security Management28
Rule 14. The sergeant at arms shall develop security 29
procedures to protect the senate, including its members, staff, 30
and the visiting public. 31
SECTION III32
RULES AND ORDER33
Time of Convening34
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Rule 15. The senate shall convene at 10:00 a.m. each working 1
day, unless adjourned to a different hour. The senate shall 2
adjourn not later than 10:00 p.m. of each working day. The 3
senate shall recess ninety minutes for lunch each working day. 4
When reconvening on the same day the senate shall recess ninety 5
minutes for dinner each working evening. This rule may be 6
suspended by a majority. 7
Quorum8
Rule 16. A majority of all members elected or appointed to 9
the senate shall be necessary to constitute a quorum to do 10
business. Less than a quorum may adjourn from day to day until a 11
quorum can be had. (See Art. 2, Sec. 8, State Constitution.)12
Order of Business13
Rule 17. After the roll is called and journal read and 14
approved, business shall be disposed of in the following order:15
16 FIRST. Reports of committees.
17 SECOND. Motions for reconsideration.
18 THIRD. Messages from the governor and other state officers.
19 FOURTH. Messages from the house of representatives and concurrence and dispute motions.
20
21
FIFTH. Introduction, first reading and reference of bills, joint memorials, joint resolutions and concurrent
resolutions.
22 SIXTH. Second reading of bills.
23 SEVENTH. Third reading of bills.
24 EIGHTH. Presentation of petitions, memorials and floor resolutions.
25 NINTH. Presentation of motions.
The order of business established by this rule may be 26
changed and any order of business already dealt with may be 27
reverted or advanced to by a majority vote of those present.28
All questions relating to the priority of business shall be 29
decided without debate. 30
Messages from the governor, other state officers, and from 31
the house of representatives may be considered at any time with 32
the consent of the senate. 33
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Special Order1
Rule 18. The president shall call the senate to order at the 2
hour fixed for the consideration of a special order, and 3
announce that the special order is before the senate, which 4
shall then be considered unless it is postponed by a majority 5
vote of the members present, and any business before the senate 6
at the time of the announcement of the special order shall take 7
its regular position in the order of business, except that if a 8
cutoff established by concurrent resolution occurs during the 9
special order, the senate may complete the measure that was 10
before the senate when consideration of the special order was 11
commenced. 12
Unfinished Business13
Rule 19. The unfinished business at the preceding 14
adjournment shall have preference over all other matters, 15
excepting special orders, and no motion or any other business 16
shall be received without special leave of the senate until the 17
former is disposed of. 18
Motions and Senate Floor Resolutions19
(How Presented)20
Rule 20. 1. No motion shall be entertained or debated until 21
announced by the president and every motion shall be deemed to 22
have been seconded. It shall be reduced to writing and read by 23
the secretary, if desired by the president or any senator, 24
before it shall be debated, and by the consent of the senate may 25
be withdrawn before amendment or action. 26
2. The senate shall consider no more than one floor 27
resolution per day in session: Provided, That this rule shall 28
not apply to floor resolutions essential to the operation of the 29
senate; and further Provided, That there shall be no limit on 30
the number of floor resolutions considered on senate pro forma 31
session days. Senate floor resolutions shall be acted upon in 32
the same manner as motions. All senate floor resolutions shall 33
be on the secretary's desk at least twenty-four hours prior to 34
consideration. Members' names shall be added to the resolution 35
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only if the member signs the resolution, except by unanimous 1
consent of the senate. Members shall have until thirty minutes 2
after the senate is convened the following day the senate is in 3
a regular or pro forma session to add or remove their names to 4
the floor resolution. A motion may be made to close the period 5
for signatures at an earlier time. If the senate is operating in 6
a remote format under the authority of Senate Rule 70, an 7
electronic or scanned signature is authorized in place of a 8
physical signature. 9
Precedence of Motions10
Rule 21. When a motion has been made and stated by the chair 11
the following motions are in order, in the rank named:12
PRIVILEGED MOTIONS 13
Adjourn, recess, or go at ease 14
Reconsider 15
Demand for call of the senate 16
Demand for roll call 17
Demand for division 18
Question of privilege 19
Orders of the day 20
INCIDENTAL MOTIONS 21
Points of order and appeal 22
Method of consideration 23
Suspend the rules 24
Reading papers 25
Withdraw a motion 26
Division of a question 27
SUBSIDIARY MOTIONS 28
29 1st Rank: To lay on the table
30 2nd Rank: For the previous question
31 3rd Rank: To postpone to a day certain
32 To commit or recommit
33 To postpone indefinitely
34 4th Rank: To amend
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No motion to postpone to a day certain, to commit, or to 1
postpone indefinitely, being decided, shall again be allowed on 2
the same day and at the same stage of the proceedings, and when 3
a question has been postponed indefinitely it shall not again be 4
introduced during the session. 5
A motion to lay an amendment on the table shall not carry 6
the main question with it unless so specified in the motion to 7
table. 8
At no time shall the senate entertain a Question of 9
Consideration. 10
Voting11
Rule 22. 1. In all cases of election by the senate, the 12
votes shall be taken by yeas and nays, and no senator or other 13
person shall remain by the secretary's desk while the roll is 14
being called or the votes are being counted. No senator shall be 15
allowed to vote except when within the bar of the senate, or 16
upon any question upon which he or she is in any way personally 17
or directly interested, nor be allowed to explain a vote or 18
discuss the question while the yeas and nays are being called, 19
nor change a vote after the result has been announced. A member 20
of the senate voting remotely is considered in attendance within 21
the bar of the senate if the member is participating in the 22
session through a remote access program established by the 23
secretary of the senate as provided in Senate Rule 70. (See also 24
Art. 2, Secs. 27 and 30, State Constitution.) 25
2. A member not voting by reason of personal or direct 26
interest, or by reason of an excused absence, or a member having 27
inadvertently voted contrary to the member's intent, may explain 28
the reason for not voting or the member's intended vote by a 29
brief statement not to exceed fifty words in the journal.30
3. The yeas and nays shall be taken when called for by one-31
sixth of all the senators present, and every senator within the 32
bar of the senate shall vote unless excused by the unanimous 33
vote of the members present, except as provided for in Senate 34
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Rule 7, subsection 4, and the votes shall be entered upon the 1
journal. (See also Art. 2, Sec. 21, State Constitution.)2
When once begun the roll call may not be interrupted for any 3
purpose other than to move a call of the senate. (See also 4
Senate Rule 24.) 5
4. A senator having been absent during roll call may ask to 6
have his or her name called. Such a request must be made before 7
the result of the roll call has been announced by the president. 8
If, during a roll call vote, the vote of a member participating 9
remotely is unable to be taken due to connectivity issues, the 10
member shall be automatically excused. The member may request in 11
writing that their vote be reflected in the senate journal, 12
though it will not count towards the final roll call.13
5. The passage of a bill or action on a question is lost by 14
a tie vote, but when a vote of the senate is equally divided, 15
the lieutenant governor, when presiding, shall have the deciding 16
vote on questions as provided for in the state Constitution. 17
(See also Art. 2, Secs. 10 and 22, State Constitution.)18
6. The order of the names on the roll call shall be 19
alphabetical by last name. 20
7. All votes in a committee shall be recorded, and the 21
record shall be preserved as prescribed by the secretary of the 22
senate. One-sixth of the committee may demand an oral roll call.23
8. If a member of the majority is going to be absent due to 24
a health matter or other emergency, then a member of the 25
minority may publicly announce on the floor of the senate that 26
he or she will cast votes as he or she believes the absent 27
member would have voted in order to avoid results that would 28
only occur because of the unanticipated absence. 29
Announcement of Vote30
Rule 23. The announcement of all votes shall be made by the 31
president. 32
Call of the Senate33
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Rule 24. Although a roll call is in progress, a call of the 1
senate may be moved by three senators, and if carried by a 2
majority of all present the secretary shall call the roll, after 3
which the names of the absentees shall again be called. The 4
doors shall then be locked and the sergeant at arms directed to 5
take into custody all who may be absent without leave, and all 6
the senators so taken into custody shall be presented at the bar 7
of the senate for such action as the senate may deem proper.8
One Subject in a Bill9
Rule 25. No bill shall embrace more than one subject and 10
that shall be expressed in the title. (See also Art. 2, Sec. 19, 11
State Constitution.) 12
No Amendment by Mere Reference to Title of Act13
Rule 26. No act shall ever be revised or amended by mere 14
reference to its title, but the act revised or the section 15
amended shall be set forth at full length. (See also Art. 2, 16
Sec. 37, State Constitution.) 17
Reading of Papers18
Rule 27. When the reading of any paper is called for, and is 19
objected to by any senator, it shall be determined by a vote of 20
the senate, without debate. 21
Any and all copies of reproductions of newspaper or magazine 22
editorials, articles or cartoons or publications or material of 23
any nature distributed to senators' desks must bear the name of 24
at least one senator granting permission for the distribution. 25
This shall not apply to materials normally distributed by the 26
secretary of the senate or the majority or minority caucuses.27
Comparing Enrolled and Engrossed Bills28
Rule 28. Any senator shall have the right to compare an 29
enrolled bill with the engrossed bill and may note any 30
objections in the Journal. 31
SECTION IV32
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE33
Rules of Debate34
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Rule 29. When any senator is about to speak in debate, or 1
submit any matter to the senate, the senator shall rise, and 2
standing in place, respectfully request recognition by the 3
President, and when recognized shall, in a courteous manner, 4
speak to the question under debate, avoiding personalities; 5
provided that a senator may refer to another member using the 6
title "Senator" and the surname of the other member. With 7
respect to any senators participating remotely under the 8
authority of Senate Rule 8, each caucus shall designate a single 9
member who is charged with seeking recognition on behalf of a 10
senator from that caucus who is participating remotely and 11
wishes to speak. Any senator participating remotely who wishes 12
to speak in debate or submit any matter permitted by Senate Rule 13
8 to the senate, shall notify the designated member of the 14
senator's desire to speak. The designated member shall seek 15
recognition under the provisions of this section on behalf of 16
the senator participating remotely and, upon recognition, the 17
designated member shall defer to the senator participating 18
remotely. No senator shall impeach the motives of any other 19
member or speak more than twice (except for explanation) during 20
the consideration of any one question, on the same day or a 21
second time without leave, when others who have not spoken 22
desire the floor, but incidental and subsidiary questions 23
arising during the debate shall not be considered the same 24
question. A majority of the members present may further limit 25
the number of times a member may speak on any question and may 26
limit the length of time a member may speak but, unless a demand 27
for the previous question has been sustained, a member shall not 28
be denied the right to speak at least once on each question, nor 29
shall a member be limited to less than two minutes on each 30
question. In any event, the senator who presents the motion may 31
open and close debate on the question. 32
Recognition by the President33
Rule 30. When two or more senators rise at the same time to 34
address the chair, the president shall name the one who shall 35
speak first, giving preference, when practicable, to the mover 36
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or introducer of the subject under consideration. (See also 1
Reed's Rule 214). 2
Call for Division of a Question3
Rule 31. Any senator may call for a division of a question, 4
which shall be divided if it embraces subjects so distinct that 5
one being taken away a substantive proposition shall remain for 6
the decision of the senate; but a motion to strike out and 7
insert shall not be divided. 8
Point of Order - Decision Appealable9
Rule 32. 1. Every decision of points of order by the 10
president shall be subject to appeal by any senator, and 11
discussion of a question of order shall be allowed. In all cases 12
of appeal the question shall be: "Shall the decision of the 13
president stand as the judgment of the senate?" 14
2. When a member appeals the decision of the presiding 15
officer, the presiding officer may not preside over the appeal.16
3. An appeal from the decision of the presiding officer is 17
timely if brought before the body on the day the decision was 18
made unless the decision affected a measure that is no longer in 19
possession of the senate. 20
Question of Privilege21
Rule 33. Any senator may rise to a question of privilege and 22
explain a personal matter by leave of the president, but shall 23
not discuss any pending question in such explanations, nor shall 24
any question of personal privilege permit any senator to 25
introduce any person or persons in the galleries. The president 26
upon notice received may acknowledge the presence of any 27
distinguished person or persons. 28
A question of privilege shall involve only subject matter 29
which affects the particular senator personally and in a manner 30
unique and peculiar to that senator. 31
Protests32
Rule 34. Any senator or senators may protest against the 33
action of the senate upon any question. Such protest may be 34
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entered upon the journal if it does not exceed 200 words. The 1
senator protesting shall file the protest with the secretary of 2
the senate within 48 hours following the action protested.3
Adoption and Suspension of Rules4
Rule 35. 1. The permanent senate rules adopted at the first 5
regular session during a legislative biennium shall govern any 6
session subsequently convened during the same legislative 7
biennium. Adoption of permanent rules may be by majority of the 8
senate without notice and a majority of the senate may change a 9
permanent rule without notice at the beginning of any session, 10
as determined pursuant to Article 2, Section 12 of the State 11
Constitution. No permanent rule or order of the senate shall be 12
rescinded or changed without a majority vote of the members of 13
the senate, and one day's notice of the motion. 14
2. A permanent rule or order may be temporarily suspended 15
for a special purpose by a vote of two-thirds of the members 16
present unless otherwise specified herein. When the suspension 17
of a rule is called, and after due notice from the president no 18
objection is offered, the president may announce the rule 19
suspended, and the senate may proceed accordingly. Motion for 20
suspension of the rules shall not be debatable, except, the 21
mover of the motion may briefly explain the purpose of the 22
motion and at the discretion of the president a rebuttal may be 23
allowed. 24
3. For the purposes of this rule, one day's notice means 25
written notice is provided to all members of the Senate by 5:00 26
p.m. the day prior to the amendment to the permanent rules being 27
offered and the notice must include, at a minimum, a description 28
of the change to be offered. 29
Previous Question30
Rule 36. The previous question shall not be put unless 31
demanded by three senators, and it shall then be in this form: 32
"Shall the main question be now put?" When sustained by a 33
majority of senators present it shall preclude all debate, 34
except the senator who presents the motion may open and close 35
debate on the question and the vote shall be immediately taken 36
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on the question or questions pending before the senate, and all 1
incidental question or questions of order arising after the 2
motion is made shall be decided whether on appeal or otherwise 3
without debate. 4
Reconsideration5
Rule 37. 1. After the final vote on any measure, before the 6
adjournment of that day's session, any member who voted with the 7
prevailing side may give notice of reconsideration unless a 8
motion to immediately transmit the measure to the house has been 9
decided in the affirmative. Such motion to reconsider shall be 10
in order only under the second order of business the day 11
immediately following the day upon which such notice of 12
reconsideration is given, and may be made by any member who 13
voted with the prevailing side. 14
2. A motion to reconsider shall have precedence over every 15
other motion, except a motion to adjourn; and when the senate 16
adjourns while a motion to reconsider is pending or before 17
passing the order of motions, the right to move a 18
reconsideration shall continue to the next day of sitting. On 19
and after the tenth day prior to adjournment sine die of any 20
session, as determined pursuant to Article 2, Section 12, or 21
concurrent resolution, or in the event that the measure is 22
subject to a senate rule or resolution or a joint rule or 23
concurrent resolution, which would preclude consideration on the 24
next day of sitting a motion to reconsider shall only be in 25
order on the same day upon which notice of reconsideration is 26
given and may be made at any time that day. Motions to 27
reconsider a vote upon amendments to any pending question may be 28
made and decided at once. 29
Motion to Adjourn30
Rule 38. Except when under call of the senate, a motion to 31
adjourn shall always be in order. The name of the senator moving 32
to adjourn and the time when the motion was made shall be 33
entered upon the journal. 34
Yeas and Nays - When Must be Taken35
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Rule 39. The yeas and nays shall be taken when called for by 1
one-sixth of all the senators present, and every senator within 2
the bar of the senate shall vote unless excused by the unanimous 3
vote of the members present, and the votes shall be entered upon 4
the journal. (See also Art. 2, Sec. 21, State Constitution.)5
When once begun the roll call may not be interrupted for any 6
purpose other than to move a call of the senate. (See also 7
Senate Rules 22 and 24.) 8
Reed's Parliamentary Rules9
Rule 40. The rules of parliamentary practice as contained in 10
Reed's Parliamentary Rules shall govern the senate in all cases 11
to which they are applicable, and in which they are not 12
inconsistent with the rules and orders of this senate and the 13
joint rules of this senate and the house of representatives.14
SECTION V15
COMMITTEES16
Committees - Appointment and Confirmation17
Rule 41. The president shall appoint all conference, 18
special, joint and standing committees on the part of the 19
senate. The appointment of the conference, special, joint and 20
standing committees shall be confirmed by the senate.21
In the event the senate shall refuse to confirm any 22
conference, special, joint or standing committee, such committee 23
shall be elected by the senate. 24
The following standing committees shall constitute the 25
standing committees of the senate: 26
Standing Committee Total Membership27
1. Agriculture((, Water,)) & Natural Resources ((& Parks)) 928
2. Business, Financial Services((, Gaming)) & Trade. . . . 929
3. Early Learning & K-12 Education. . . . . . . . . . . . 930
4. Environment, Energy & Technology. . . . . . . . ((8)) 1131
5. Health & Long-Term Care. . . . . . . . . . . . ((10)) 1132
6. Higher Education & Workforce Development. . . . . . . . 533
7. Housing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ((11)) 734
8. Human Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ((7)) 535
9. Labor & Commerce. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 936
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10. Law & Justice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ((11)) 91
11. Local Government((, Land Use & Tribal Affairs)). . . . 52
12. Rules. . . . . . . . . 16 (plus the Lieutenant Governor)3
13. State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections. . ((7)) 94
14. Transportation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ((17)) 195
15. Ways & Means. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Subcommittees7
Rule 42. Committee chairs may create subcommittees of the 8
standing committee and designate subcommittee chairs thereof to 9
study subjects within the jurisdiction of the standing 10
committee. These subcommittees do not have executive action 11
authority. The committee chair shall approve the use of 12
committee staff and equipment assigned to the subcommittee. 13
Subcommittee activities shall further be subject to facilities 14
and operations committee approval to the same extent as are the 15
actions of the standing committee from which they derive their 16
authority. 17
Subpoena Power18
Rule 43. Any standing committee, or any special committee 19
created by the senate, may have the powers of subpoena, the 20
power to administer oaths, and the power to issue commissions 21
for the examination of witnesses in accordance with the 22
provisions of chapter 44.16 RCW. The committee chair shall file 23
with the committee on rules, prior to issuance of any process, a 24
statement of purpose setting forth the name or names of those 25
subject to process. The rules committee shall consider every 26
proposed issuance of process at a meeting of the rules committee 27
immediately following the filing of the statement with the 28
committee. The process shall not be issued prior to 29
consideration by the rules committee. The process shall be 30
limited to the named individuals and the committee on rules may 31
overrule the service on an individual so named. 32
Duties of Committees33
Rule 44. The several committees shall fully consider 34
measures referred to them. 35
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The committees shall acquaint themselves with the interest 1
of the state specially represented by the committee, and from 2
time to time present such bills and reports as in their judgment 3
will advance the interests and promote the welfare of the people 4
of the state: PROVIDED, That no executive action on bills may be 5
taken during an interim. 6
Committee Rules7
Rule 45. 1. At least five days' notice shall be given of all 8
public hearings held by any committee other than the rules 9
committee. Such notice shall contain the date, time and place of 10
such hearing together with the title and number of each bill, or 11
identification of the subject matter, to be considered at such 12
hearing. By a majority vote of the committee members present at 13
any committee meeting such notice may be dispensed with. The 14
reason for such action shall be set forth in a written statement 15
preserved in the records of the meeting. 16
2. No committee may hold a public hearing during a regular 17
or extraordinary session on a proposal identified as a draft 18
unless the draft has been made available to the public at least 19
twenty-four hours prior to the hearing. This rule does not apply 20
during the five days prior to any cutoff established by 21
concurrent resolution nor does it apply to any measure exempted 22
from the resolution. 23
3. During its consideration of or vote on any bill, 24
resolution or memorial, the deliberations of any committee or 25
subcommittee of the senate shall be open to the public. In case 26
of any disturbance or disorderly conduct at any such 27
deliberations, the chair shall order the sergeant at arms to 28
suppress the same and may order the meeting closed to any person 29
or persons creating such disturbance. 30
4. No committee shall amend a measure, adopt a substitute 31
bill, or vote upon any measure or appointment absent a quorum. A 32
committee may conduct a hearing absent a quorum. A majority of 33
any committee shall constitute a quorum and committees shall be 34
considered to have a quorum present unless the question is 35
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raised. Any question as to quorum not raised at the time of the 1
committee action is deemed waived. 2
5. Bills reported to the senate from a standing committee 3
must have a majority report, which shall be prepared upon a 4
printed standing committee report form; shall be adopted at a 5
regularly or specially called meeting during a legislative 6
session and shall be signed by a majority of the committee; and 7
shall carry only one of the following recommendations:8
a. Do pass; 9
b. Do pass as amended; 10
c. That a substitute bill be substituted therefor, and the 11
substitute bill do pass; or 12
d. Without recommendation. 13
In addition to one of the above-listed recommendations, a 14
report may also recommend that a bill be referred to another 15
committee. 16
6. A majority report of a committee must carry the 17
signatures of a majority of the members of the committee. In the 18
event a committee has a quorum pursuant to subsection 4 of this 19
rule, a majority of the members present may act on a measure, 20
subject to obtaining the signatures of a majority of the members 21
of the committee on the majority report. If, after executive 22
action on a measure, the signatures of all members are not 23
included on either a majority or minority report, the committee 24
shall hold the signature sheets for the measure for 24 hours, 25
not counting Saturdays or Sundays, from adjournment of the 26
committee hearing at which executive action was taken on the 27
measure. This 24-hour hold period applies even if a majority of 28
the members of the committee has signed the majority report. 29
After the 24-hour hold period, the signature sheets must be 30
submitted to the workroom if there is a majority of signatures 31
on the majority report. Once signature sheets have been 32
submitted to the senate workroom by committee staff, a member 33
may not sign or remove his or her signature from a majority or 34
minority signature sheet. If a majority of members of the 35
committee have not signed the majority report, the measure or 36
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appointment remains in the possession of the committee. The 24-1
hour hold period does not apply within the five days preceding 2
any cutoff date and does not apply to a biennial or supplemental 3
omnibus operating budget, omnibus capital budget, or omnibus 4
transportation budget. 5
7. Any measure, appointment, substitute bill, or amendment 6
still within a committee's possession before it has been 7
reported out to the full senate may be reconsidered to correct 8
an error, change language, or otherwise accurately reflect the 9
will of the committee in its majority and minority reports to 10
the full senate. Any such reconsideration may be made at any 11
time, by any member of the committee, provided that the 12
committee has not yet reported the measure, appointment, 13
substitute bill, or amendment out to the full senate. Any such 14
reconsideration made after a vote has been taken or signatures 15
obtained will require a new vote and signature sheet. Any 16
measure which does not receive a majority vote of the members 17
present may be reconsidered at that meeting and may again be 18
considered upon motion of any committee member if one day's 19
notice of said motion is provided to all committee members.20
8. Any member of the committee not concurring in the 21
majority report may sign a minority report containing a 22
recommendation of "do not pass" or "without recommendation," 23
which shall be signed by those members of the committee 24
subscribing thereto, and submitted with the majority report. 25
Unless the signatory of a minority report expressly indicates a 26
"do not pass" recommendation, the member's vote shall be deemed 27
to be "without recommendation." In every case where a majority 28
report form is circulated for signature, a minority report form 29
shall also be circulated. 30
9. When a committee reports a substitute for an original 31
bill with the recommendation that the substitute bill do pass, 32
it shall be in order to read the substitute bill the first time 33
and have the same ordered printed. 34
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A motion for the substitution of the substitute bill for the 1
original bill shall not be in order until the committee on rules 2
places the original bill on the second reading calendar.3
10. No vote in any committee shall be taken by secret ballot 4
nor shall any committee have a policy of secrecy as to any vote 5
on action taken in such committee. 6
11. All reports of standing committees must be on the 7
secretary's desk one hour prior to convening of the session in 8
order to be read at said session. During any special session of 9
the legislature or within the three days preceding any cut-off 10
date or sine die, this rule may be suspended by a majority vote 11
of those present. This rule does not apply to reports of 12
biennial or supplemental omnibus operating budget, omnibus 13
capital budget, or omnibus transportation budget bill.14
12. For purposes of this rule, a committee is deemed to have 15
reported a measure, appointment, substitute bill, or amendment 16
out when it has delivered its majority and minority reports to 17
the senate workroom. After such delivery, the committee no 18
longer has possession of the measure, appointment, substitute 19
bill, or amendment and no further committee action, including 20
reconsideration or a member adding or removing his or her 21
signature to a majority or minority report, may be taken.22
13. All committees will rely upon and use the Electronic 23
Bill Book. Committee staff should add all materials relating to 24
hearings, work sessions, or executive sessions to the Electronic 25
Bill Book as early as possible or when the material has been 26
made public. Paper copies will not be provided to members. All 27
materials submitted by the public shall be submitted 28
electronically. 29
14. All committees will use the online Committee Sign-In 30
system. All committee members will be able to view the list of 31
individuals who have signed in to testify on each measure or 32
appointment. Members of the public wishing to testify in-person 33
or remotely may sign up remotely no later than one hour before 34
the committee is scheduled to meet. 35
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15. With the exception of the ways and means and 1
transportation committees, the chairs of standing committees 2
must publish the list of measures and appointments that may be 3
considered for executive session by 4:00 p.m. two days preceding 4
executive session. The chairs of the ways and means committee 5
and the transportation committee must publish the list of 6
measures and appointments that may be considered for executive 7
session by 7:00 p.m. two days preceding executive session. A 8
chair, with the consent of the ranking member, has discretion to 9
waive this deadline in extraordinary circumstances. A published 10
measure or appointment may be rescheduled for executive action 11
at the committee's next meeting without additional notice, 12
provided no additional amendments are considered. 13
16. Members must have amendment requests to nonpartisan 14
committee staff by 12:00 p.m. the day before scheduled executive 15
action. A chair, with the consent of the ranking member, has 16
discretion to waive this deadline in extraordinary circumstances 17
or to accept technical revisions to perfect an amendment. 18
Members should be considerate of staff and turn in amendment 19
requests earlier if they are long or complex, keeping in mind 20
the final deadline for consideration of amendments.21
17. All amendments, including substitutes, must be sponsored 22
by a committee member. All amendments and effect statements must 23
be either drafted or reviewed, or both, by nonpartisan committee 24
staff. To be eligible for consideration at an executive session 25
in a committee meeting scheduled to begin prior to 12:00 p.m., 26
amendments must be released from confidentiality and posted to 27
the Electronic Bill Book for committee members and the public by 28
4:00 p.m. the day before the executive session or the amendments 29
will be considered out of order. To be eligible for 30
consideration at an executive session in a committee meeting 31
scheduled to begin on or after 12:00 p.m., amendments must be 32
released from confidentiality and posted to the Electronic Bill 33
Book for committee members and the public by 7:00 p.m. the day 34
before the executive session or the amendments will be 35
considered out of order. A chair with the consent of the ranking 36
member has discretion to waive this deadline in extraordinary 37
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circumstances or to accept technical revisions to perfect an 1
amendment. 2
18. A committee chair may choose to allow committee members 3
to participate remotely in committee meetings. The committee 4
chair shall notify the secretary of the senate prior to the 5
first day of the legislative session if the chair will allow 6
committee members to participate remotely. A chair that 7
initially chooses to allow only in-person participation may 8
later choose to allow remote participation but must provide the 9
secretary of the senate with notice of the change at least 24 10
hours prior to the committee hearing in which the change will 11
become effective. Once a chair has chosen to allow members to 12
participate remotely, this choice cannot be changed during the 13
remainder of the session. If a chair allows committee members to 14
participate remotely, those members will be considered "present" 15
for the purposes of this rule and Senate Rule 49. All committee 16
meetings shall be chaired in person. A chair may participate 17
remotely in a committee meeting when another member of the 18
committee is acting as chair. Members participating remotely 19
shall be allowed to participate in committee activities to the 20
same extent as those attending in person. 21
Committee Meetings During Sessions22
Rule 46. No committee shall sit during the daily session of 23
the senate unless by special leave. 24
No committee shall sit during any scheduled caucus.25
Reading of Reports26
Rule 47. The majority report, and minority report, if there 27
be one, together with the names of the signers thereof, shall be 28
read by the secretary, unless the reading be dispensed with by 29
the senate, and all committee reports shall be spread upon the 30
journal. 31
Recalling Bills from Committees32
Rule 48. Any standing committee of the senate may be 33
relieved of further consideration of any bill, regardless of 34
prior action of the committee, by a majority vote of the 35
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senators elected or appointed. The senate may then make such 1
orderly disposition of the bill as they may direct by a majority 2
vote of the members of the senate. 3
Bills Referred to Rules Committee4
Rule 49. All bills reported by a committee to the senate 5
shall then be referred to the committee on rules for second 6
reading without action on the report unless otherwise ordered by 7
the senate. (See also Senate Rules 63 and 64.) A bill may not be 8
referred to the committee on rules for second reading unless a 9
standing committee has held a public hearing on the bill. This 10
rule does not apply when the committee is considering a bill 11
whose official companion has already been heard. By a majority 12
vote of the committee members present at any executive session, 13
the public hearing requirement may be dispensed with when the 14
committee is considering a biennial or supplemental omnibus 15
operating budget, omnibus capital budget, or omnibus 16
transportation budget bill and the committee has already had a 17
hearing on a substantially similar omnibus budget bill.18
Rules Committee19
Rule 50. The lieutenant governor shall be a voting member 20
and the chair of the committee on rules. The president pro 21
tempore shall be a voting member and the vice chair of the 22
committee on rules. The committee on rules shall have charge of 23
the daily second and third reading calendar of the senate and 24
shall direct the secretary of the senate the order in which the 25
bills shall appear on the calendars and the committee on rules 26
shall have the authority to directly refer any bill before them 27
to any other standing committee. Such referral shall be reported 28
out to the senate on the next day's business. 29
The order of consideration of bills on the second or third 30
reading calendar will be set by the floor leader of the majority 31
caucus. A majority of members present may vote to change the 32
order. 33
The calendar, except in emergent situations, as determined 34
by the committee on rules, shall be available electronically to 35
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senators each day and shall cover the bills for consideration on 1
the next following day. 2
Employment Committee3
Rule 51. The employment committee for committee staff shall 4
consist of six members, three from the majority party and three 5
from the minority party. The chair shall be appointed by the 6
majority leader. All decisions shall be determined by majority 7
vote. The committee shall operate within staffing, budget levels 8
and guidelines as authorized and adopted by the facilities and 9
operations committee. 10
Committee of the Whole11
Rule 52. At no time shall the senate sit as a committee of 12
the whole. 13
The senate may at any time, by the vote of the majority of 14
the members present, sit as a body for the purpose of taking 15
testimony on any measure before the senate. 16
Appropriation Budget Bills17
Rule 53. No biennial or supplemental omnibus operating 18
budget, omnibus capital budget, or omnibus transportation budget 19
bill may be acted upon in second reading until twenty-four hours 20
after the bill has been placed on the second reading calendar by 21
the rules committee. This rule does not apply to conference 22
committee reports of biennial or supplemental omnibus budget 23
bills, which are governed by joint rules. This rule may be 24
suspended with a majority vote of those present within three 25
days of sine die. The rules committee shall establish by 26
separate motion the time at which a bill has been placed on the 27
second reading calendar for purposes of this rule.28
SECTION VI29
BILLS, RESOLUTIONS, MEMORIALS AND GUBERNATORIAL APPOINTMENTS30
Definitions31
Rule 54. "Measure" means a bill, joint memorial, joint 32
resolution, or concurrent resolution. 33
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"Bill" when used alone means bill, joint memorial, joint 1
resolution, or concurrent resolution. 2
"Majority" shall mean a majority of those members present 3
unless otherwise stated. 4
Prefiling5
Rule 55. Holdover members and members-elect to the senate 6
may prefile bills with the secretary of the senate on any day 7
commencing with the first Monday in December preceding any 8
session year; or twenty days prior to any special session of the 9
legislature. Such bills will be printed, distributed and 10
prepared for introduction on the first legislative day. No bill, 11
joint memorial or joint resolution shall be prefiled by title 12
and/or preamble only. (See also Senate Rule 3, Sub. 3.)13
Introduction of Bills14
Rule 56. 1. All bills, joint resolutions, and joint 15
memorials introduced shall be endorsed with a statement of the 16
title and the name of the member introducing the same. Any 17
member desiring to introduce a bill, joint resolution, or joint 18
memorial shall file the same with the secretary of the senate by 19
noon of the day before the convening of the session at which 20
said bill, joint resolution, or joint memorial is to be 21
introduced. Sponsor sheets shall be available in both physical 22
and electronic formats. A member may introduce a bill 23
electronically by emailing the bill to the office of the code 24
reviser. Only bills that have been emailed by a member or the 25
member's legislative assistant may be considered for electronic 26
introduction. 27
2. For bills introduced electronically, the sponsoring 28
member may designate one cosponsor of the bill by providing the 29
cosponsor's name in the email and by including the cosponsor's 30
name in the cc line of the email. Additional members may add 31
themselves as cosponsors to the bill by emailing the senate 32
workroom by 5:00 p.m. of the day of its introduction. Agency and 33
governor request legislation may follow this process and the 34
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sponsoring member or member's legislative assistant must email 1
such legislation to the office of the code reviser.2
3. Provided that a vote has not been taken on final passage 3
of a bill, joint resolution, or joint memorial, a member may add 4
his or her name as a cosponsor until 5:00 p.m. of the day of its 5
introduction. For any bill, joint resolution, or joint memorial 6
that has been prefiled for a regular session, a member has until 7
5:00 p.m. of the day following introduction to add his or her 8
name as a cosponsor. 9
4. To be considered during a regular session, a bill must be 10
introduced at least ten days before final adjournment of the 11
legislature, unless the legislature directs otherwise by a vote 12
of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, said 13
vote to be taken by yeas and nays and entered upon the journal. 14
The time limitation for introduction of bills shall not apply to 15
substitute bills reported by standing committees for bills 16
pending before such committees and general appropriation and 17
revenue bills. (See also Art. 2, Sec. 36, State Constitution.)18
5. The introduction of title-only bills is prohibited. For 19
the purposes of this subsection, a title-only bill is a bill 20
containing a title or short summary of the intended subject 21
matter, without laying forth the full changes intended to any 22
act or sections of law. 23
Amendatory Bills24
Rule 57. Bills introduced in the senate intended to amend 25
existing statutes shall have the words which are amendatory to 26
such existing statutes underlined. Any matter to be deleted from 27
the existing statutes shall be indicated by setting such matter 28
forth in full, enclosed by double parentheses, and such deleted 29
matter shall be lined out with hyphens. No bill shall be printed 30
or acted upon until the provisions of this rule shall have been 31
complied with. 32
Sections added by amendatory bill to an existing act, or 33
chapter of the official code, need not be underlined but shall 34
be designated "NEW SECTION" in upper case type and such 35
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designation shall be underlined. New enactments need not be 1
underlined. 2
When statutes are being repealed, the Revised Code of 3
Washington section number to be repealed, the section caption 4
and the session law history, from the most current to the 5
original, shall be cited. 6
Joint Resolutions and Memorials7
Rule 58. Joint resolutions and joint memorials, up to the 8
signing thereof by the president of the senate, shall be subject 9
to the rules governing the course of bills. 10
Senate Concurrent Resolutions11
Rule 59. Concurrent resolutions shall be subject to the 12
rules governing the course of bills and may be adopted without a 13
roll call. Concurrent resolutions authorizing investigations and 14
authorizing the expenditure or allocation of any money must be 15
adopted by roll call and the yeas and nays recorded in the 16
journal. Concurrent resolutions are subject to final passage on 17
the day of the first reading without regard to Senate Rules 62, 18
63, and 64. 19
Committee Bills20
Rule 60. Committee bills introduced by a standing committee 21
during a legislative session may be filed with the secretary of 22
the senate and introduced, and the signature of each member of 23
the committee shall be endorsed upon the cover of the original 24
bill. 25
Committee bills shall be read the first time by title, 26
ordered printed, and referred to the committee on rules for 27
second reading. 28
Committee Reference29
Rule 61. When a motion is made to refer a subject, and 30
different committees are proposed, the question shall be taken 31
in the following order: 32
33 FIRST: A standing committee.
p. 34 8603
1 SECOND: A select committee.
Reading of Bills2
Rule 62. Every bill shall be read on three separate days 3
unless the senate deems it expedient to suspend this rule. On 4
and after the tenth day preceding adjournment sine die of any 5
session, or three days prior to any cut-off date for 6
consideration of bills, as determined pursuant to Article 2, 7
Section 12 of the Constitution or concurrent resolution, or 8
during any special session of the legislature, this rule may be 9
suspended by a majority vote. (See also Senate Rules 59 and 64).10
First Reading11
Rule 63. The first reading of a bill shall be by title only, 12
unless a majority of the members present demand a reading in 13
full. 14
After the first reading, bills shall be referred to an 15
appropriate committee pursuant to Senate Rule 61. Draft bill 16
referrals will be electronically published by 7:00 p.m. the 17
evening before the session in which the referrals will be 18
considered. All objections or requests for rereferral must be 19
communicated in an email by a member to the majority floor 20
leader by 9:00 a.m. the day of convening. 21
Upon being reported back by committee, pursuant to Senate 22
Rule 49, all bills shall be referred to the committee on rules 23
for second reading, unless otherwise ordered by the senate.24
A bill shall be reported back by the committee chair upon 25
written petition therefor signed by a majority of its members. 26
The petition shall designate the recommendation as provided in 27
Senate Rule 45, Sub. 5. 28
No committee chair shall exercise a pocket veto of any bill.29
Should there be a two-thirds majority report of the 30
committee membership against the bill, a vote shall be 31
immediately ordered for the indefinite postponement of the bill.32
Second Reading/Amendments33
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Rule 64. Upon second reading, the bill shall be read section 1
by section, in full, and be subject to amendment. 2
Any member may, if sustained by three members, remove a bill 3
from the consent calendar as constituted by the committee on 4
rules. A bill removed from the consent calendar shall take its 5
place as the last bill on the second reading calendar.6
No amendment shall be considered by the senate until it 7
shall have been sent to the secretary's desk in writing and read 8
by the secretary. 9
All amendments adopted on the second reading shall then be 10
securely fastened to the original bill. 11
All amendments rejected by the senate shall be spread upon 12
the journal, and the journal shall show the disposition of all 13
amendments. 14
When no further amendments shall be offered, the president 15
shall declare the bill has passed its second reading, and shall 16
be referred to the committee on rules for third reading.17
Third Reading18
Rule 65. Bills on third reading shall be read in full by 19
sections, and no amendment shall be entertained. 20
When a bill shall pass, it shall be certified to by the 21
secretary, together with the vote upon final passage, noting the 22
day of its passage thereon. 23
The vote must be taken by yeas and nays, the names of the 24
senators voting for and against the same to be entered upon the 25
journal and the majority of the members elected to the senate 26
must be recorded thereon as voting in its favor to secure its 27
passage by the senate. 28
Scope and Object of Bill Not to be Changed29
Rule 66. No amendment to any bill shall be allowed which 30
shall change the scope and object of the bill. (See also Art. 2, 31
Sec. 38, State Constitution.) Substitute bills shall be 32
considered amendments for the purposes of this rule. A point of 33
order raising the question of scope and object may be raised at 34
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any time during consideration of an amendment prior to voting on 1
the amendment. 2
Matters Related to Disagreement Between the Senate and House3
Rule 67. When there is a disagreement between the senate and 4
house on a measure before the senate, the senate may act upon 5
the measure with the following motions which have priority in 6
the following order: 7
To concur 8
To non-concur 9
To recede 10
To insist 11
To adhere 12
These motions are in order as to any single amendment or to 13
a series of amendments. (See Reed's Rules 247 through 254.)14
A senate bill, passed by the house with amendment or 15
amendments which shall change the scope and object of the bill, 16
upon being received in the senate, shall be referred to an 17
appropriate committee and shall take the same course as for 18
original bills, unless a motion to ask the house to recede, to 19
insist or to adhere is made prior to the measure being referred 20
to committee. 21
Bills Committed for Special Amendment22
Rule 68. A bill may be committed with or without special 23
instructions to amend at any time before taking the final vote.24
Confirmation of Gubernatorial Appointees25
Rule 69. When the names of appointees to state offices are 26
transmitted to the secretary of the senate for senate 27
confirmation, the communication from the governor shall be 28
recorded and referred to the appropriate standing committee.29
The standing committee, or subcommittee, pursuant to Senate 30
Rule 42, shall require each appointee referred to the committee 31
for consideration to complete the standard questionnaire to be 32
used to ascertain the appointee's general background and 33
qualifications. The committee may also require the appointee to 34
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complete a supplemental questionnaire related specifically to 1
the qualifications for the position to which he has been 2
appointed. 3
Any hearing on a gubernatorial appointment, held by the 4
standing committee, or subcommittees, pursuant to Senate Rule 5
42, shall be a public hearing. The appointee may be required to 6
appear before the committee on request. When appearing, the 7
appointee shall be required to testify under oath or 8
affirmation. The chair of the committee or the presiding member 9
shall administer the oath or affirmation in accordance with RCW 10
44.16. (See also Article 2, Sec. 6 of the State Constitution.)11
Nothing in this rule shall be construed to prevent a 12
standing committee, or subcommittee, pursuant to Senate Rule 42, 13
upon a two-thirds vote of its members, from holding executive 14
sessions when considering an appointment. 15
When the committee on rules presents the report of the 16
standing committee before the senate, the question shall be the 17
confirmation of the name proposed, and the roll shall then be 18
called and the yeas and nays entered upon the journal. In the 19
event a message is received from the governor requesting return 20
of an appointment or appointments to the office of the governor 21
prior to confirmation, the senate shall vote upon the governor's 22
request and the appointment or appointments shall be returned to 23
the governor if the request is approved by a majority of the 24
members elected or appointed. (Article 13 of the State 25
Constitution.) 26
Emergency Resolution Authorized27
Rule 70. 1. If the Facilities and Operations Committee 28
determines through a majority vote that physically convening all 29
members and staff in a single location presents a danger to the 30
health or safety of the participants or is impractical because 31
of a publicly declared statewide emergency or catastrophic 32
incident under RCW 43.06.010, the senate shall adopt a 33
resolution establishing the rules and procedures governing any 34
special or regular legislative session. 35
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2. For purposes of adopting the senate resolution required 1
by this rule, some or all members may vote using a remote access 2
program established by the Secretary of the Senate. The remote 3
access program must provide a mechanism approved by the 4
President of the Senate by which the President can verify a 5
member's remote presence. Members are considered in attendance 6
within the bar of the senate when using the remote access 7
program, including for purposes of establishing quorum. To the 8
extent practicable, a member participating remotely under this 9
rule has the same privileges, rights, and responsibilities under 10
the Senate Rules as if the member were physically present.11
I, Sarah Bannister, Secretary of the Senate, 12
do hereby certify that this is a true and 13
correct copy of Senate Resolution 8603, 14
adopted by the Senate 15
January 13, 2025 16
SARAH BANNISTER 17
Secretary of the Senate 18
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