House rules
The Washington State House rules establish procedures and protocols for conducting legislative business in the House of Representatives. These rules provide the framework for how bills are processed, committees operate, and representatives conduct official business.
Preface
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That ​permanent House Rules for the Sixty-Eighth Legislature be adopted as follows:
PERMANENT RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE 2023-2024
- Rule 1. Definitions
- Rule 2. Chief Clerk to Call to Order
- Rule 3. Election of Officers
- Rule 4. Powers and Duties of the Speaker
- Rule 5 . Chief Clerk
- Rule 6. Executive Rules Committee
- Rule 7. Duties of Employees
- Rule 8. Admission to the House
- Rule 9. Absentees and Courtesy
- Rule 10. Bills, Memorials and Resolutions - Introductions
- Rule 11. Reading of Bills
- Rule 12. Amendments
- Rule 13. Final Passage
- Rule 14. Hour of Meeting, Roll Call and Quorum
- Rule 15. Daily Calendar and Order of Business
- Rule 16. Motions
- Rule 17. Remote Participation and Voting Permitted Upon Authorization
- Rule 18. Members' Right to Debate
- Rule 19. Rules of Debate
- Rule 20. Ending of Debate - Previous Question
- Rule 21. Voting
- Rule 22. Reconsideration
- Rule 23. Call of the House
- Rule 24. Appeal from Decision of Chair
- Rule 25. Standing Committees
- Rule 26. Duties of Committees
- Rule 27. Standing Committees - Expenses - Subpoena Power
- Rule 28. Vetoed Bills
- Rule 29. Suspension of Compensation
- Rule 30. Smoking and Vaping
- Rule 31. Liquor
- Rule 32. Parliamentary Rules
- Rule 33. Standing Rules Amendment
- Rule 34. Rules to Apply for Assembly
- Rule 35. Legislative Publications
- Rule 36. Emergency Resolution Authorized
Rule 10. Bills, Memorials and Resolutions - Introductions
Any member desiring to introduce a bill shall file the same with the chief clerk. Bills filed by 10:00 a.m. shall be introduced at the next daily session, in the order filed: PROVIDED, That if such introduction is within the last ten days of a regular session, it cannot be considered without a direct vote of two-thirds (2/3) of all the members elected to each house with such vote recorded and entered upon the journal. (Article II, section 36)
Any returning member or member-elect may prefile a bill with the chief clerk commencing the first Monday in December preceding any regular session or twenty (20) days before any special session. Prefiled bills shall be introduced on the first legislative day.
All bills shall be endorsed with a statement of the title and the name of the member or members introducing the same. The chief clerk shall attach to all bills a substantial cover bearing the title and sponsors and shall number each bill in the order filed. All bills shall be printed unless otherwise ordered by the house.
Any bill introduced at any session during the term shall be eligible for action at all subsequent sessions during the term.
No house bill may be introduced that is identical to any other pending house bill.