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

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SECTION IV. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

Rule 29. Rules of Debate

When any senator is about to speak in debate, or submit any matter to the senate, the senator shall rise, and standing in place, respectfully request recognition by the President, and when recognized shall, in a courteous manner, speak to the question under debate, avoiding personalities; provided that a senator may refer to another member using the title "Senator" and the surname of the other member. With respect to any senators participating remotely under the authority of Senate Rule 8, each caucus shall designate a single member who is charged with seeking recognition on behalf of a senator from that caucus who is participating remotely and wishes to speak. Any senator participating remotely who wishes to speak in debate or submit any matter permitted by Senate Rule 8 to the senate, shall notify the designated member of the senator's desire to speak. The designated member shall seek recognition under the provisions of this section on behalf of the senator participating remotely and, upon recognition, the designated member shall defer to the senator participating remotely. No senator shall impeach the motives of any other member or speak more than twice (except for explanation) during the consideration of any one question, on the same day or a second time without leave, when others who have not spoken desire the floor, but incidental and subsidiary questions arising during the debate shall not be considered the same question. A majority of the members present may further limit the number of times a member may speak on any question and may limit the length of time a member may speak but, unless a demand for the previous question has been sustained, a member shall not be denied the right to speak at least once on each question, nor shall a member be limited to less than two minutes on each question. In any event, the senator who presents the motion may open and close debate on the question.

Rule 30. Recognition by the President

When two or more senators rise at the same time to address the chair, the president shall name the one who shall speak first, giving preference, when practicable, to the mover or introducer of the subject under consideration. (See also Reed's Rule 214).

Rule 31. Call for Division of a Question

Any senator may call for a division of a question, which shall be divided if it embraces subjects so distinct that one being taken away a substantive proposition shall remain for the decision of the senate; but a motion to strike out and insert shall not be divided.

Rule 32. Point of Order - Decision Appealable

1. Every decision of points of order by the president shall be subject to appeal by any senator, and discussion of a question of order shall be allowed. In all cases of appeal the question shall be: "Shall the decision of the president stand as the judgment of the senate?"

2. When a member appeals the decision of the presiding officer, the presiding officer may not preside over the appeal.

3. An appeal from the decision of the presiding officer is timely if brought before the body on the day the decision was made unless the decision affected a measure that is no longer in possession of the senate.

Rule 33. Question of Privilege

Any senator may rise to a question of privilege and explain a personal matter by leave of the president, but shall not discuss any pending question in such explanations, nor shall any question of personal privilege permit any senator to introduce any person or persons in the galleries. The president upon notice received may acknowledge the presence of any distinguished person or persons.

A question of privilege shall involve only subject matter which affects the particular senator personally and in a manner unique and peculiar to that senator.

Rule 34. Protests

Any senator or senators may protest against the action of the senate upon any question. Such protest may be entered upon the journal if it does not exceed 200 words. The senator protesting shall file the protest with the secretary of the senate within 48 hours following the action protested.

Rule 35. Adoption and Suspension of Rules

1. The permanent senate rules adopted at the first regular session during a legislative biennium shall govern any session subsequently convened during the same legislative biennium. Adoption of permanent rules may be by majority of the senate without notice and a majority of the senate may change a permanent rule without notice at the beginning of any session, as determined pursuant to Article 2, Section 12 of the State Constitution. No permanent rule or order of the senate shall be rescinded or changed without a majority vote of the members of the senate, and one day's notice of the motion.

2. A permanent rule or order may be temporarily suspended for a special purpose by a vote of two-thirds of the members present unless otherwise specified herein. When the suspension of a rule is called, and after due notice from the president no objection is offered, the president may announce the rule suspended, and the senate may proceed accordingly. Motion for suspension of the rules shall not be debatable, except, the mover of the motion may briefly explain the purpose of the motion and at the discretion of the president a rebuttal may be allowed.

3. For the purposes of this rule, one day's notice means written notice is provided to all members of the Senate by 5:00 p.m. the day prior to the amendment to the permanent rules being offered and the notice must include, at a minimum, a description of the change to be offered.

Rule 36. Previous Question

The previous question shall not be put unless demanded by three senators, and it shall then be in this form: "Shall the main question be now put?" When sustained by a majority of senators present it shall preclude all debate, except the senator who presents the motion may open and close debate on the question and the vote shall be immediately taken on the question or questions pending before the senate, and all incidental question or questions of order arising after the motion is made shall be decided whether on appeal or otherwise without debate.

Rule 37. Reconsideration

1. After the final vote on any measure, before the adjournment of that day's session, any member who voted with the prevailing side may give notice of reconsideration unless a motion to immediately transmit the measure to the house has been decided in the affirmative. Such motion to reconsider shall be in order only under the second order of business the day immediately following the day upon which such notice of reconsideration is given, and may be made by any member who voted with the prevailing side.

2. A motion to reconsider shall have precedence over every other motion, except a motion to adjourn; and when the senate adjourns while a motion to reconsider is pending or before passing the order of motions, the right to move a reconsideration shall continue to the next day of sitting. On and after the tenth day prior to adjournment sine die of any session, as determined pursuant to Article 2, Section 12, or concurrent resolution, or in the event that the measure is subject to a senate rule or resolution or a joint rule or concurrent resolution, which would preclude consideration on the next day of sitting a motion to reconsider shall only be in order on the same day upon which notice of reconsideration is given and may be made at any time that day. Motions to reconsider a vote upon amendments to any pending question may be made and decided at once.

Rule 38. Motion to Adjourn

Except when under call of the senate, a motion to adjourn shall always be in order. The name of the senator moving to adjourn and the time when the motion was made shall be entered upon the journal.

Rule 39. Yeas and Nays - When Must be Taken

The yeas and nays shall be taken when called for by one-sixth of all the senators present, and every senator within the bar of the senate shall vote unless excused by the unanimous vote of the members present, and the votes shall be entered upon the journal. (See also Art. 2, Sec. 21, State Constitution.)

When once begun the roll call may not be interrupted for any purpose other than to move a call of the senate. (See also Senate Rules 22 and 24.)

Rule 40. Reed's Parliamentary Rules

The rules of parliamentary practice as contained in Reed's Parliamentary Rules shall govern the senate in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the rules and orders of this senate and the joint rules of this senate and the house of representatives.