Senate rules
The permanent rules of the Washington Senate inform administrative operations and parliamentary procedures in Senate business, including committee meetings and floor sessions.
Preface
Adoption of rules
The Senate rules were created with the adoption of SR 8603 on January 13, 2025, and then amended by SR 8638 which was adopted on March 25, 2025.
Permanent Rules of the Senate
BE IT RESOLVED, That the Rules of the Senate for the 2023 Regular Session of the 68th Legislature, as amended in the 2023 Regular Session and the 2024 Regular Session, be adopted as amended as the Rules of the Senate for the 2025 Regular Session of the 69th Legislature, to read as follows:
PERMANENT RULES OF THE SENATE
SIXTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE
2025
SECTION II. OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT
Rule 8. Facilities and Operations
1. After the election of new caucus leadership at the beginning of the first regular session during a legislative biennium, the majority caucus shall designate four members and the minority caucus shall designate three members to serve on the facilities and operations committee. Each caucus may also designate an alternate. The chair of the facilities and operations committee must be selected by a majority vote of the members of the committee. If a different caucus becomes the majority caucus anytime during the legislative biennium, the operation of the senate shall transfer to the newly designated members after the leadership of the new majority caucus is determined.
2. All necessary expenses of the senate incurred during the session shall be signed for by the secretary and approved by a majority of the committee on facilities and operations. The committee on facilities and operations shall carefully consider all items of expenditure ordered or contracted on the part of the senate, and report upon the same prior to the voucher being signed by the secretary of the senate authorizing the payment thereof. The committee on facilities and operations shall issue postage only as follows:
(a) To elected or appointed members of the senate in an amount sufficient to allow performance of their legislative duties.(b) To the secretary of the senate in an amount sufficient to carry out the business of the senate.
3. The facilities and operations committee is authorized to adopt respectful workplace policies.
4. The facilities and operations committee may determine the rules by which an individual senator may vote on the floor using a remote access program established by the secretary of the senate. A maximum of six members, three from each caucus, are permitted to vote remotely under this rule during any single day of floor action in the event of illness or emergency. The leader of each caucus may approve up to three members from his or her respective caucus and must give notice to the secretary of the senate of which members are authorized to participate remotely at least two hours prior to the convening of the floor action. Members authorized to participate remotely under this rule may participate in debate according to the provisions of Senate Rule 29 but may not make motions or points of order during floor action. The remote access program must meet the requirements of Senate Rule 70.
Rule 9. Use of Senate Chambers
The senate chamber and its facilities shall not be used for any but legislative business, except by permission of the senate while in session, or by the facilities and operations committee when not in session.
Rule 10. Admission to the Senate
The sergeant at arms shall admit only the following individuals to the floor, the wings, and adjacent areas of the senate for the period of time beginning one-half hour before convening and ending when the senate has adjourned or recessed for an hour or more, subject to the limitations noted:
- The governor and/or designees, members of the house of representatives, and state elected officials;
- Officers and authorized employees of the legislature;
- Honored guests being presented to the senate;
- Former members of the senate who are not registered lobbyists pursuant to chapter 42.17 RCW;
- Representatives of the press, who shall be admitted to the press table on the floor subject to capacity at the press table, but not in the wings and adjacent areas except while moving to and from the press table; and
- Persons, including representatives of the press, specifically requested by a senator or senate staff on behalf of a senator as long as the person remains in the wings and adjacent areas of the caucus of which the senator is a member.
Rule 11. Printing of Bills
The number of bills printed and reprinted shall be at the discretion of the secretary of the senate, with the approval of the facilities and operations committee.
Rule 12. Furnishing Full File of Bills
Persons, firms, corporations and organizations within the state, desirous of receiving copies of all printed senate bills, shall make application therefor to the secretary of the senate. The bill clerk shall send copies of all printed senate bills to such persons, firms, corporations and organizations as may be ordered by the secretary of the senate. The secretary of the senate is authorized to recoup costs.
Rule 13. Regulation of Lobbyists
All persons who engage in lobbying of any kind as defined in chapter 42.17 RCW are subject to the senate's policy on appropriate workplace conduct. Conduct that constitutes prohibited conduct under the policy may result in restrictions, including, but not limited to, prohibitions on unaccompanied movement within the senate.
Any person registered as a lobbyist pursuant to chapter 42.17 RCW who intervenes in or attempts to influence any personnel decision of the senate regarding any employee may suffer an immediate revocation of all privileges before the senate or such other privileges and for such time as may be deemed appropriate by the senate committee on rules. This restriction shall not prohibit a registered lobbyist from making written recommendations for staff positions.
Rule 14. Security Management
The sergeant at arms shall develop security procedures to protect the senate, including its members, staff, and the visiting public.