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 14. Hour of Meeting, Roll Call and Quorum
(A) HOUR OF MEETING. The speaker shall call the house to order each day of sitting at 10:00 A.M., unless the house shall have adjourned to some other hour.
(B) ROLL CALL AND QUORUM. Before proceeding with business, the roll of the members shall be called and the names of those absent or excused shall be entered on the journal. A majority of all the members elected must be present to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, seven members with the speaker, or eight members in the speaker's absence, having chosen a speaker pro tempore, shall be authorized to demand a call of the house and may compel the attendance of absent members in the manner provided in Rule 23(B). Any member participating remotely in house proceedings as provided in Rule 17 shall be considered present for purposes of a quorum. For the purpose of determining if a quorum be present, the speaker shall count all members present, whether voting or not. (Article II, section 8)
(C) The house shall adjourn not later than 10:00 P.M. of each working day. This rule may be suspended by a majority vote.