Joint rules
The House and Senate both vote to adopt joint rules that govern processes that affect both chambers.
Adoption date
January 13, 2025
Resolution(s)
Preface
BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the state of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That the following be adopted as the Joint Rules of the Sixty-Ninth Legislature:
JOINT RULES OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SIXTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE
Rule 20. Adoption of reports
No floor vote may be taken on any conference committee report without a distribution to all members of a summary of additions, changes, and deletions made by the conference committee that is sufficiently explicit to inform the members of the effect of said additions, changes, and deletions. The chief clerk of the house of representatives and the secretary of the senate shall distribute the reports to the members as soon as possible.
Each house shall have 24 hours from the time of proper receipt, by the chief clerk of the house of representatives and the secretary of the senate, and by distribution to the members before considering reports from a conference committee which has proposed new items within the scope and object of the bill in conference.
The foregoing provision relating to 24 hour intervals may be suspended by the senate or the house of representatives by two-thirds vote of the members present, and such suspension shall apply only to the house voting to suspend this provision.
The report must be voted upon in its entirety and cannot be amended. The report of a conference committee may be adopted by voice vote.
Passage of a bill as amended by conference report shall be by roll call and ayes and nays shall be entered on the journals of the respective house. Passage requires a constitutional majority in both houses, except in the case of constitutional amendments, which require a two-thirds vote.