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
2023 Senate rules
Permanent rules of the Senate
68th Legislature
The Senate adopted its permanent rules in Senate Engrossed Senate Resolution No. 8601, on January 9, 2023. A subsequent revision was adopted in Senate Resolution No. 8606 on January 25, 2023
Sections
- SECTION I. OFFICERS-MEMBERS-EMPLOYEES
- SECTION II. OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT
- SECTION III. RULES AND ORDER
- Rule 15. Time of Convening
- Rule 16. Quorum
- Rule 17. Order of Business
- Rule 18. Special Order
- Rule 19. Unfinished Business
- Rule 20. Motions and Senate Floor Resolutions (How Presented)
- Rule 21. Precedence of Motions
- Rule 22. Voting
- Rule 23. Announcement of Vote
- Rule 24. Call of the Senate
- Rule 25. One Subject in a Bill
- Rule 26. No Amendment by Mere Reference to Title of Act
- Rule 27. Reading of Papers
- Rule 28. Comparing Enrolled and Engrossed Bills
- SECTION IV. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE
- Rule 29. Rules of Debate
- Rule 30. Recognition by the President
- Rule 31. Call for Division of a Question
- Rule 32. Point of Order - Decision Appealable
- Rule 33. Question of Privilege
- Rule 34. Protests
- Rule 35. Adoption and Suspension of Rules
- Rule 36. Previous Question
- Rule 37. Reconsideration
- Rule 38. Motion to Adjourn
- Rule 39. Yeas and Nays - When Must be Taken
- Rule 40. Reed's Parliamentary Rules
- SECTION V. COMMITTEES
- Rule 41. Committees - Appointment and Confirmation
- Rule 42. Subcommittees
- Rule 43. Subpoena Power
- Rule 44. Duties of Committees
- Rule 45. Committee Rules
- Rule 46. Committee Meetings During Sessions
- Rule 47. Reading of Reports
- Rule 48. Recalling Bills from Committees
- Rule 49. Bills Referred to Rules Committee
- Rule 50. Rules Committee
- Rule 51. Employment Committee
- Rule 52. Committee of the Whole
- Rule 53. Appropriation Budget Bills
- SECTION VI. BILLS, RESOLUTIONS, MEMORIALS AND GUBERNATORIAL APPOINTMENTS
- Rule 54. Definitions
- Rule 55. Prefiling
- Rule 56. Introduction of Bills
- Rule 57. Amendatory Bills
- Rule 58. Joint Resolutions and Memorials
- Rule 59. Senate Concurrent Resolutions
- Rule 60. Committee Bills
- Rule 61. Committee Reference
- Rule 62. Reading of Bills
- Rule 63. First Reading
- Rule 64. Second Reading/Amendments
- Rule 65. Third Reading
- Rule 66. Scope and Object of Bill Not to be Changed
- Rule 67. Matters Related to Disagreement Between the Senate and House
- Rule 68. Bills Committed for Special Amendment
- Rule 69. Confirmation of Gubernatorial Appointees
- Rule 70. Emergency Resolution Authorized
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 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:
The governor and/or designees,
Members of the house of representatives,
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,
Persons specifically requested by a senator to the president in writing or only as long as accompanied by a senator.
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.