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 26. Duties of Committees
House committees shall operate as follows:
(A) NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING. The chief clerk shall make public the time, place and subjects to be discussed at committee meetings. All public hearings held by committees shall be scheduled with at least five (5) days notice, including the day of notice and day of hearing, and shall be given adequate publicity: PROVIDED, That when less than eight (8) days remain for action on a bill, the Speaker may authorize a reduction of the five-day notice period when required by the circumstances, including but not limited to the time remaining for action on the bill, the nature of the subject, and the number of prior hearings on the subject.
(B) COMMITTEE QUORUM. A majority of any committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
(C) SESSION MEETINGS. No committee shall sit while the house is in session without special leave of the speaker.
(D) DUTIES OF STANDING COMMITTEES.
- (1) Only such bills as are included on the written notice of a committee meeting may be considered at that meeting.
- (2) A majority recommendation of a committee must be made by a majority of the entire membership of the committee in a regularly called meeting before a bill, memorial, or resolution may be reported out: PROVIDED, That by motion under the eighth order of business, a majority of the members elected to the house may relieve a committee of a bill and place it on the second reading calendar.
- Majority recommendations of a committee can only be "do pass," "do pass as amended," or that "the substitute bill be substituted therefor and that the substitute bill do pass."
- (3) Members of the committee not concurring in the majority report may make a written minority report containing a recommendation of "do not pass" or "without recommendation," which shall be joined by those members of the committee subscribing thereto, and submitted with the majority report.
- (4) Every recommendation and report shall be made by members of the committee during the regularly called meeting of the committee. No signatures are required.
- (5) All committee reports shall be spread upon the journal. The journal of the house shall contain an exact copy of all committee reports, together with the names of the members joining in the majority and minority recommendations contained in such reports.
- (6) Every vote to report a bill out of committee shall be taken by the yeas and nays, with the nays specifying "do not pass" or "without recommendation," and the names of the members voting for and against, as well as the names of members absent, shall be recorded on the committee report. Any member may call for a recorded vote, which shall include the names of absent members, on any substantive question before the committee. A copy of all recorded committee votes shall be kept by the chief clerk and shall be available for public inspection.
- (7) A member participating remotely in house proceedings as provided in Rule 17 who is unable to vote on a bill in committee for technical reasons may submit a statement for the bill file indicating their intent to have voted yea, nay-do not pass, or nay-without recommendation. The statement must be submitted to the chief clerk on the same day the vote is taken.
- (8) All bills having a direct appropriation shall be referred to the appropriate fiscal committee before their final passage.
- (9) No standing committee shall vote by secret written ballot on any issue.
- (10) During its consideration of or vote on any bill, resolution, or memorial, the deliberations of any standing committee of the House of Representatives shall be open to the public.
- (11) A standing committee to which a bill was originally referred shall, prior to voting the bill out of committee, consider whether the bill authorizes rule-making powers or requires the exercise of rule-making powers and, if so, consider:
- (a) The nature of the new rule-making powers; and
- (b) To which agencies the new rule-making powers would be delegated and which agencies, if any, may have related rule-making powers.
- (12) Insofar as practicable, testimony in public hearings should be balanced between those in support of and in opposition to proposed legislation, with consideration given to providing an opportunity for members of the public to testify within available time.