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 18. Members' Right to Debate
The methods by which a member may exercise their right to debate are as follows:
(A) RECOGNITION OF MEMBER. When any member desires to speak in debate or deliver any matter to the house, the member shall rise and respectfully address the speaker and pause until recognized. Any member participating remotely in house proceedings as provided in Rule 17 who desires to speak may request to be recognized by use of the request to speak button in the remote floor activity system.
(B) ORDER OF SPEAKING. When two or more members arise at once, the speaker shall name the one who is to speak.
(C) LIMITATION OF DEBATE. No member shall speak longer than ten (10) minutes without consent of the house: PROVIDED, That on and after the fifth day prior to the day of adjournment sine die of any session, as determined pursuant to Article II, section 12 of the state Constitution or concurrent resolution, or on and after the fifth day prior to the day any bill must be reported from the house as established by concurrent resolution, no member shall speak more than three (3) minutes without the consent of the house. No member shall speak more than twice on the same question without leave of the house: PROVIDED, That the chair of the committee or the mover of the question may close debate if it is consistent with Rule 20 (Previous Question).