WA State Government

How a Bill Becomes a Law

From the Washington State Legislature

During the annual legislative session, legislators gather in Olympia to make new or change existing laws. Making or changing laws generally takes the following procedure:

  1. A bill – the proposed “new” law – may be introduced in either the Senate or House of Representatives (its “house of origin”) for its first reading.
  2. The bill is then assigned to a committee in its house of origin.
  3. The committee studies the bill, holds public hearings on it and votes to pass it on for a reading in a floor session of that house. If the bill does not have enough votes for passage out of committee, it is essentially “dead.” The committee chairperson can also choose not to take action on the bill, essentially “killing” it.
  4. If the bill passes out of committee, a committee report is read in an open session of its house of origin, and the bill is then referred to the rules committee of that house.
  5. The rules committee can either place the bill on the second reading calendar for debate before the entire body, or take no action.
  6. If placed on the second reading the bill is subject to debate and amendment before being placed on the third reading calendar for a final vote for passage by the entire body in its house of origin.
  7. After passing one house, the bill goes through the same procedure in the other house. If the other house amends the bill, the house of origin must concur with the changes.
  8. When the bill is passed by both houses, it is signed by the respective leaders and sent to the Governor.
  9. The Governor signs the bill into law or may veto all or part of it. If the Governor fails to act on the bill, it may become law without a signature.