Welcome to the Washington State Legislature
The Washington State Legislature is the state's lawmaking body, where elected Senators and Representatives come together to create and pass laws that shape the daily lives of Washingtonians.
The Washington State Legislature is the state's lawmaking body, where elected Senators and Representatives come together to create and pass laws that shape the daily lives of Washingtonians.
Find a bill or initiative
Find out what's happening in the Legislature
Floor and meeting calendars
| Joint Oregon-Washington Legislative Action Committee | Joint | Virtual | Agenda | View Video |
Joint Oregon-Washington Legislative Action Committee Joint Virtual |
| Housing | Senate | SHR 4 and Virtual | Agenda | View Video |
Housing Senate SHR 4 and Virtual |
| Select Committee on Pension Policy | Joint | HHR A and Virtual | Agenda | View Video |
Select Committee on Pension Policy Joint HHR A and Virtual |
| Select Committee on Pension Policy | Joint | HHR A and Virtual | Agenda | View Video |
Select Committee on Pension Policy Joint HHR A and Virtual |
| JLARC - Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee | Joint | HHR A and Virtual | Agenda | View Video |
JLARC - Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee Joint HHR A and Virtual |
| JLARC I-900 Subcommittee for SAO Performance Audits | Other | HHR A and Virtual | Agenda | View Video |
JLARC I-900 Subcommittee for SAO Performance Audits Other HHR A and Virtual |
| Law & Justice | Senate | Virtual | Agenda | View Video |
Law & Justice Senate Virtual |
| Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences | Other | HHR C and Virtual | Agenda | View Video |
Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences Other HHR C and Virtual |
| Postsecondary Education & Workforce | House | Agenda | View Video |
Postsecondary Education & Workforce House |
| Environment & Energy | House | HHR B and Virtual | Agenda | View Video |
Environment & Energy House HHR B and Virtual |
| Agriculture & Natural Resources | House | HHR B and Virtual | Agenda | View Video |
| Human Services | Senate | Virtual | Agenda | View Video |
Agriculture & Natural Resources House HHR B and Virtual |
Human Services Senate Virtual |
| Transportation | Senate | Perry Technical Institute | Agenda | View Video |
Transportation Senate Perry Technical Institute |
| JLARC I-900 Subcommittee for SAO Performance Audits | Other | HHR A and Virtual | Agenda |
JLARC I-900 Subcommittee for SAO Performance Audits Other HHR A and Virtual |
| Finance | House | HHR A and Virtual | Agenda |
Finance House HHR A and Virtual |
| Early Learning & Human Services | House | HHR D and Virtual | Agenda |
Early Learning & Human Services House HHR D and Virtual |
| Local Government | House | HHR E and Virtual | Agenda |
Local Government House HHR E and Virtual |
| Joint Transportation Committee | Joint | Olympia | Agenda |
Joint Transportation Committee Joint Olympia |
| Transportation | Senate | SHR 1 and Virtual | Agenda | |
| Ways & Means | Senate | SHR 4 and Virtual | Agenda |
Transportation Senate SHR 1 and Virtual |
Ways & Means Senate SHR 4 and Virtual |
| Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences | Other | HHR C and Virtual | Agenda | |
| Consumer Protection & Business | House | Virtual | Agenda | |
| Select Committee on Pension Policy | Joint | HHR A and Virtual | Agenda |
Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences Other HHR C and Virtual |
Consumer Protection & Business House Virtual |
Select Committee on Pension Policy Joint HHR A and Virtual |
| Select Committee on Pension Policy | Joint | HHR A and Virtual | Agenda |
Select Committee on Pension Policy Joint HHR A and Virtual |
| Community Safety | House | HHR D and Virtual | Agenda |
Community Safety House HHR D and Virtual |
| Joint Committee on Veterans' & Military Affairs | Joint | SHR 1 and Virtual | Agenda |
Joint Committee on Veterans' & Military Affairs Joint SHR 1 and Virtual |
| JLARC I-900 Subcommittee for SAO Performance Audits | Other | HHR A and Virtual | Agenda |
JLARC I-900 Subcommittee for SAO Performance Audits Other HHR A and Virtual |
| Select Committee on Pension Policy | Joint | HHR A and Virtual | Agenda |
Select Committee on Pension Policy Joint HHR A and Virtual |
| Select Committee on Pension Policy | Joint | HHR A and Virtual | Agenda |
Select Committee on Pension Policy Joint HHR A and Virtual |
| Joint Transportation Committee | Joint | Spokane | Agenda |
Joint Transportation Committee Joint Spokane |
| JLARC - Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee | Joint | HHR A and Virtual | Agenda |
JLARC - Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee Joint HHR A and Virtual |
| JLARC I-900 Subcommittee for SAO Performance Audits | Other | HHR A and Virtual | Agenda | |
| Joint Transportation Committee | Joint | SHR 1 | Agenda |
JLARC I-900 Subcommittee for SAO Performance Audits Other HHR A and Virtual |
Joint Transportation Committee Joint SHR 1 |
| Select Committee on Pension Policy | Joint | HHR A and Virtual | Agenda |
Select Committee on Pension Policy Joint HHR A and Virtual |
| JLARC - Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee | Joint | HHR A and Virtual | Agenda |
JLARC - Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee Joint HHR A and Virtual |
| JLARC I-900 Subcommittee for SAO Performance Audits | Other | HHR A and Virtual | Agenda |
JLARC I-900 Subcommittee for SAO Performance Audits Other HHR A and Virtual |
How we make laws
Legislators introduce bills
First, legislators submit bills to the House or Senate. Leaders in those chambers choose which committees should receive them.
Bill introductions
Committees review bills
Committees study bills and make reports on them. They also hold meetings that are open to the public.
Bills in committees
Rules committees set the schedule
These special committees control the legislative calendar. They decide which bills will move forward.
Rules committee review
The first chamber votes
Bills then go to the entire House or Senate for discussion and voting. If they pass, they go to the next chamber.
Debates
The next chamber repeats the process
The other chamber follows the same steps as the first chamber. If bills pass both chambers, they go to the Governor.
Next chamber
The Governor makes a choice
Finally, the Governor may sign bills into law or veto them. The Legislature can vote to override a veto.
Governor's decision
Civic education
Our Civic Education program provides opportunities and resources for students and teachers. Whether you want to join a program, teach others, or simply learn, we're here to help.
Civic education programs
Visit the Capitol
Planning a visit? The Capitol Campus website has information about everything you need to know, from maps and parking to tours and attractions.
Visit Capitol.wa.gov website