How a bill becomes a law
This committee meeting type allows testimony from the public and stakeholders.
What is a public hearing?
This statewide elected official presides over the Senate and can break tie votes.
Who is the Lieutenant Governor?
Most bills must pass through at least one of these before reaching the floor.
What are policy committees?
In even numbered years, the session typically lasts this much time.
What is 60 days?
This agency oversees lobbying disclosure and campaign finance laws in Washington.
What is the Public Disclosure Commission?
This document summarizes bills.
What is a bill report?
These legislators often have more influence over bills and decide what bills are heard in committee.
Who are committee chairs?
These committees control state spending
What are fiscal committees?
This deadline marks the last day policy committees can pass bills out.
What is a committee cutoff?
These types of groups represent Presidents, Faculty, Deans, Staff, etc...
What are Councils of Professionals?
This is the first step after a legislator introduces a bill in the Washington State Legislature.
What is first reading and committee referral?
This office can veto bills passed by the legislature.
Who is the Governor.
A bill that never gets a hearing in committee is often described using this term.
What is a dead bill?
This type of session is called by the Governor and limited to specific topics.
What is a special session?
This legislative agency provides nonpartisan fiscal analysis of higher education budgets and bills.
What is the Office of Financial Management (OFM)?
After passing both chambers, a bill becomes law without the Governor’s signature if no action is taken within this time frame while the Legislature is in session.
What is five days?
These individuals can pull a bill from rules without an official rules meeting occurring.
Who are majority party leaders?
These committees often hears bills dealing with taxes and revenue.
What are the ways & means and finance committees
Bills necessary to implement the budget are often exempt from these deadlines.
What are cutoff dates?
This agency administers state financial aid programs such as the Washington College Grant.
What is the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC)?
This process resolves differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.
What is a conference committee?
This House leader assigns bills to committee.
Who is the majority leader (Rep. Fitzgibbon)?
This committee meeting type allows testimony from the public and stakeholders.
What is a public hearing?
This unofficial period before session begins is often the most strategic time for lobbyists to shape bill language.
What is interim?
This system serves the largest number of higher education students in Washington.
What is the Community and Technical College system?