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Joint rules

The House and Senate both vote to adopt joint rules that govern processes that affect both chambers.

Preface

In 2023, the Senate and House adopted the Legislature's current joint rules with the adoption of House Concurrent Resolution 4401. The joint rules were subsequently amended with the adoption of Senate Concurrent Resolution 8407.

 

Rule 11. Joint and Concurrent Resolutions - Memorials

All memorials and resolutions from the legislature addressed to the President of the United States, to the Congress or either house thereof, to any other branch of the Federal government, to any other branch of state government, or to any unit of local government shall be in the form of joint memorials. Proposed amendments to the state Constitution shall be in the form of joint resolutions. Business between the two houses such as joint sessions, amendments to redistricting plans submitted by a redistricting commission created under chapter 44.05 RCW, adopting or amending joint rules, creating or empowering joint committees, opening and closing business of the legislature and all such related matters shall be in the form of concurrent resolutions. Joint memorials, joint resolutions, and concurrent resolutions, up to and including the signing thereof by the presiding officer of each house, shall be subject to the rules governing the course of bills. Concurrent resolutions may be adopted without a roll call. Concurrent resolutions amending a redistricting plan submitted by a redistricting commission, authorizing investigations or authorizing the expenditure or allocation of any money must be adopted by roll call, and the yeas and nays recorded in the journal. Concurrent resolutions amending a redistricting plan as well as all amendments to those resolutions must be agreed to by two-thirds of the members elected or appointed to each house.

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