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.
Chapters
- Rule 1. Ethics
- Rule 2. Prohibited Political Activity
- Rule 3. Legislative Code of Conduct
- Rule 4. Employee Protection
- Rule 5. Sessions of the Legislature
- Rule 6. Joint Session
- Rule 7. Motions for Joint Session
- Rule 8. Business Limited
- Rule 9. Joint Legislative Committees
- Rule 10. Joint Committee Meetings
- Rule 11. Joint and Concurrent Resolutions - Memorials
- Rule 12. Amendatory Bills
- Rule 13. Bills, How Drawn
- Rule 14. Amendments to State Constitution - Action by Legislature
- Rule 15. Publicity of Proposed Amendments to State Constitution
- Rule 16. Initiative Petition Before the Legislature
- Rule 17. Conference Committee
- Rule 18. Failure to Agree
- Rule 19. Report of Conference Committee, How Made Out - Whom Returned to
- Rule 20. Adoption of Reports
- Rule 21. Messages Between the Two Houses
- Rule 22. Bills to be Engrossed
- Rule 23. Final Action on Bills, How Communicated
- Rule 24. Enrolled Bills - Presiding Officer to Sign
- Rule 25. Disposition of Enrolled Bills
- Rule 26. Adjournment
- Rule 27. Adjournment Sine Die
- Rule 28. Each House Judge of Its Own Membership
- Rule 29. Convening Special Legislative Sessions
- Rule 30. Convening Special Legislative Sessions Solely to Reconsider Vetoed Bills
- Rule 31. Amendments to Joint Rules
- Rule 32. Joint Rules to Apply for Biennium
Rule 5. Sessions of the Legislature
The sessions of the legislature shall be held annually, convening on the second Monday of January each year, as provided by RCW 44.04.010 in accordance with Article 2, section 12 of the state Constitution.