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 23. Call of the House
One-sixth (1/6) of the members present may demand a call of the house at any time before the house has divided or the voting has commenced by yeas and nays.
(A) DOORS TO BE CLOSED. When call of the house has been ordered, the sergeant at arms shall close and lock the doors, and no member shall be allowed to leave the chamber: PROVIDED, That the rules committee shall be allowed to meet, upon request of the speaker, while the house stands at ease: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That the speaker may permit members to use such portions of the fourth floor as may be properly secured.
(B) SERGEANT AT ARMS TO BRING IN THE ABSENTEES. The clerk shall immediately call a roll of the members and note the absentees, whose names shall be read and entered upon the journal in such manner as to show who are excused and who are absent without leave. A member authorized to participate remotely in house proceedings as provided in Rule 17 who is visible at the time of the roll call through the remote floor activity system shall not be considered absent or absent without leave.
The clerk shall furnish the sergeant at arms with a list of those who are absent without leave, and the sergeant at arms shall proceed to bring in such absentees; but arrests of members for absence shall not be made unless ordered by a majority of the members present.
(C) HOUSE UNDER CALL. While the house is under a call, no business shall be transacted except to receive and act on the report of the sergeant at arms; and no other motion shall be in order except a motion to proceed with business under the call of the house, a motion to excuse absentees, or a motion to dispense with the call of the house. The motion to proceed with business under the call of the house and the motion to excuse absent members shall not be adopted unless a majority of the members elected vote in favor thereof. The motion to dispense with the call of the house may be adopted by a majority of the members present.