Washington State Legislature

Washington State Legislature
Name	Washington State Legislature
Legislature	69th Washington State Legislature
House type	Bicameral
Houses	Washington State Senate, Washington House of Representatives
Leader1 type	President of the Senate
Leader1	Denny Heck
Party1	(D)
Election1	January 9, 2023
Leader2 type	Speaker of the House
Leader2	Laurie Jinkins
Party2	(D)
Election2	January 13, 2020
Members	147, 49 senators, 98 representatives
Political groups1	Majority (29), Democratic (29), Minority (20), Republican (20)
Political groups2	Majority (58), Democratic (58), Minority (40), Republican (40)
Last election1	November 8, 2022
Next election1	November 5, 2024
Meeting place	Washington State Capitol, Olympia, Washington
Website	leg.wa.gov

Washington State Legislature. It is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Washington and is a bicameral body, composed of the lower Washington House of Representatives and the upper Washington State Senate. The legislature meets in the Washington State Capitol in Olympia, Washington, and is responsible for enacting state laws, approving the state budget, and providing oversight of the executive branch. Its structure and powers are established by the Washington State Constitution.

History

The Washington State Legislature was first convened following the territory's admission to the Union in 1889 under the Enabling Act of 1889. The first legislative session was held in 1890 in the temporary capital of Olympia, Washington. Early sessions grappled with establishing foundational laws, a state code, and responding to issues like the Panic of 1893. The legislature played a central role in the Populist and Progressive Era reforms, including the passage of initiative and referendum powers in 1912. Significant historical actions include ratifying the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1920 and creating major public institutions like the University of Washington. The current Legislative Building was completed in 1928 after the original Washington State Capitol was destroyed by fire in 1921.

Structure and composition

The legislature is bicameral, consisting of a 49-member Washington State Senate and a 98-member Washington House of Representatives. Senators serve four-year terms, while representatives serve two-year terms. The state is divided into 49 legislative districts, each electing one senator and two representatives. The Washington State Redistricting Commission, created by a 1983 amendment to the Washington State Constitution, is responsible for drawing these district boundaries following each United States Census. Leadership includes the Lieutenant Governor, who serves as President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House, elected from the membership. Key support agencies include the Office of Program Research and the Washington State Statute Law Committee.

Powers and duties

The legislature holds the primary lawmaking authority for the state as defined in Article II of the Washington State Constitution. Its core powers include enacting, amending, and repealing statutes contained in the Revised Code of Washington. It holds the "power of the purse," responsible for crafting and passing the operating, capital, and transportation budgets. The Washington State Senate holds advice and consent powers, confirming gubernatorial appointments to agencies, commissions, and the Washington Supreme Court. The legislature can override a gubernatorial veto with a two-thirds vote in each chamber, propose amendments to the Washington State Constitution, and impeach state officials. It also exercises oversight through committees like the Washington State Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee.

Legislative process

A bill may be introduced in either chamber, except for revenue bills which must originate in the Washington House of Representatives. Following introduction and first reading, bills are assigned to a standing committee, such as the Senate Ways and Means Committee or the House Appropriations Committee. Successful bills are reported to the floor for debate and voting. To pass, a bill must receive a constitutional majority vote in both the Washington State Senate and the Washington House of Representatives. The Governor of Washington then may sign it into law, allow it to become law without a signature, or veto it. The legislature also acts on initiatives to the legislature, referred by the people under Initiative and referendum in Washington.

Current session and leadership

The 69th legislature convened its regular session on January 8, 2024. The President of the Washington State Senate is Denny Heck, who also serves as Lieutenant Governor of Washington. The Senate Majority Leader is Andy Billig. The Speaker of the Washington House of Representatives is Laurie Jinkins, with Joe Fitzgibbon serving as House Majority Leader. In both chambers, the Democratic Party holds significant majorities. Key legislative priorities for the session often include housing policy, climate initiatives like the Climate Commitment Act, transportation funding, and modifications to the Washington State Patrol and Washington Department of Corrections systems.

Elections and membership

All 98 seats in the Washington House of Representatives are up for election every two years. Elections for the Washington State Senate are staggered, with about half of the 49 seats contested each two-year cycle. Washington utilizes a top-two primary system, where all candidates appear on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation, and the top two vote-getters advance to the general election. Members must be U.S. citizens, registered voters, and residents of their district for at least one year prior to the election. Following the 2022 elections, the Democratic Party maintained control of both chambers. Notable current members include Mark Mullet, John Braun, Strom Peterson, and J.T. Wilcox.

Category:Washington (state) legislature Category:State legislatures of the United States