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Welcome to the Washington State Legislature

The Washington State Legislature is the state's lawmaking body, where elected Senators and Representatives come together to create and pass laws that shape the daily lives of Washingtonians.

The Washington State Legislature is the state's lawmaking body, where elected Senators and Representatives come together to create and pass laws that shape the daily lives of Washingtonians.

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Find out what's happening in the Legislature

Today, January 15, is day 3 of the 2025 regular session
There are 102 day(s) left this session

Today, January 15, 2025

8:00 AM
Upcoming events for Today, January 15, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Agriculture & Natural Resources House HHR B and Virtual Agenda View Video
Business, Financial Services & Trade Senate SHR 2 and Virtual Agenda View Video
Civil Rights & Judiciary House HHR A and Virtual Agenda View Video
Environment, Energy & Technology
Cancelled
Senate SHR 1 and Virtual Agenda View Video
Human Services Senate SHR 2 and Virtual Agenda View Video
Labor & Workplace Standards House HHR D and Virtual Agenda View Video
ASL available for this meeting when viewed on TVW  ASL on TVW
Local Government House HHR E and Virtual Agenda View Video
Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans House HHR C and Virtual Agenda View Video
Upcoming events for Today, January 15, 2025 at 8:00 AM

Agriculture & Natural Resources

House

HHR B and Virtual

Agenda

View Video

Business, Financial Services & Trade

Senate

SHR 2 and Virtual

Agenda

View Video

Civil Rights & Judiciary

House

HHR A and Virtual

Agenda

View Video

Environment, Energy & Technology
Cancelled

Senate

SHR 1 and Virtual

Agenda

View Video

Human Services

Senate

SHR 2 and Virtual

Agenda

View Video

Labor & Workplace Standards

House

HHR D and Virtual

Agenda

View Video

ASL available for this meeting when viewed on TVW  ASL on TVW

Local Government

House

HHR E and Virtual

Agenda

View Video

Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans

House

HHR C and Virtual

Agenda

View Video

11:15 AM
Upcoming events for Today, January 15, 2025 at 11:15 AM
PRO FORMA SENATE SESSION Senate View Video
Upcoming events for Today, January 15, 2025 at 11:15 AM

PRO FORMA SENATE SESSION

Senate

View Video

11:30 AM
Upcoming events for Today, January 15, 2025 at 11:30 AM
JOINT SESSION Joint
Upcoming events for Today, January 15, 2025 at 11:30 AM

JOINT SESSION

Joint

1:30 PM
Upcoming events for Today, January 15, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Consumer Protection & Business House HHR B and Virtual Agenda View Video
Early Learning & Human Services House HHR D and Virtual Agenda View Video
Early Learning & K-12 Education Senate SHR 1 and Virtual Agenda View Video
ASL available for this meeting when viewed on TVW  ASL on TVW
Health Care & Wellness House HHR A and Virtual Agenda View Video
Housing Senate SHR 4 and Virtual Agenda View Video
Postsecondary Education & Workforce House HHR C and Virtual Agenda View Video
State Government & Tribal Relations House HHR E and Virtual Agenda View Video
ASL available for this meeting when viewed on TVW  ASL on TVW
Upcoming events for Today, January 15, 2025 at 1:30 PM

Consumer Protection & Business

House

HHR B and Virtual

Agenda

View Video

Early Learning & Human Services

House

HHR D and Virtual

Agenda

View Video

Early Learning & K-12 Education

Senate

SHR 1 and Virtual

Agenda

View Video

ASL available for this meeting when viewed on TVW  ASL on TVW

Health Care & Wellness

House

HHR A and Virtual

Agenda

View Video

Housing

Senate

SHR 4 and Virtual

Agenda

View Video

Postsecondary Education & Workforce

House

HHR C and Virtual

Agenda

View Video

State Government & Tribal Relations

House

HHR E and Virtual

Agenda

View Video

ASL available for this meeting when viewed on TVW  ASL on TVW

4:00 PM
Upcoming events for Today, January 15, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Appropriations House HHR A and Virtual Agenda View Video
Transportation House HHR B and Virtual Agenda View Video
ASL available for this meeting when viewed on TVW  ASL on TVW
Upcoming events for Today, January 15, 2025 at 4:00 PM

Appropriations

House

HHR A and Virtual

Agenda

View Video

Transportation

House

HHR B and Virtual

Agenda

View Video

ASL available for this meeting when viewed on TVW  ASL on TVW

How we make laws

Legislators introduce bills

First, legislators submit bills to the House or Senate. Leaders in those chambers choose which committees should receive them.

Bill introductions
Hand placing bill documents in to a wooden box labeled 'hopper'

Committees review bills

Committees study bills and make reports on them. They also hold meetings that are open to the public.

Bills in committees
committee hearing with attendees

Rules committees set the schedule

These special committees control the legislative calendar. They decide which bills will move forward.

Rules committee review
coference room with chairs around a square table

The first chamber votes

Bills then go to the entire House or Senate for discussion and voting. If they pass, they go to the next chamber.

Debates
hand tapping electronic voting machine

The next chamber repeats the process

The other chamber follows the same steps as the first chamber. If bills pass both chambers, they go to the Governor.

Next chamber
Governor signing a bill

The Governor makes a choice

Finally, the Governor may sign bills into law or veto them. The Legislature can vote to override a veto.

Governor's decision
Hand placing bill documents in to a wooden box labeled 'hopper'

    Civic education

    Our Civic Education program provides opportunities and resources for students and teachers. Whether you want to join a program, teach others, or simply learn, we're here to help.

    Civic education programs

    Visit the Capitol

    Planning a visit? The Capitol Campus website has information about everything you need to know, from maps and parking to tours and attractions.

    Visit Capitol.wa.gov website
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