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 22. Reconsideration
Notice of a motion for reconsideration on the final passage of bills shall be made on the day the vote to be reconsidered was taken and before the house has voted to transmit the bill to the senate.
Reconsideration of the votes on the final passage of bills must be taken on the next working day after such vote was taken: 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 third day prior to the day a bill must be reported from the house as established by concurrent resolution, then reconsideration of votes on the final passage of bills must be taken on the same day as the original vote was taken: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That any member participating remotely in house proceedings as provided in Rule 17 who was unable to vote using the remote voting function, orally, or by telephone may require reconsideration of the vote on the final passage of bills the same day the vote is taken.
A motion to reconsider an amendment may be made at any time the bill remains on second reading.
Any member who voted on the prevailing side may move for reconsideration or give notice thereof.
A motion to reconsider can be decided only once when decided in the negative.
When a motion to reconsider has been carried, its effect shall be to place the original question before the house in the exact position it occupied before it was voted upon.