The Law Library Guide to the 2023 Legislative Session
A new statewide Crosscut/Elway poll ranked cost of living, housing costs and related economic aspects as the top voter priority, cited by 34% of respondents. Public safety, including crime and drug use, came in second place with 23% of voters mentioning that first in response to an open-ended question. Close behind, 22% of the poll respondents said addressing homelessness should be the legislature’s main priority this year.”— Six issues on the agenda for the 2023 Washington Legislature, knkx.org
The Washington State Legislature has returned to an in-person format for the 2023 legislative session, which began on Monday, January 9. Session operating plans were developed by the House and Senate with consideration for safety as well as public participation in the legislative process. House and Senate galleries will be open to the public and comments may be made at most committee meetings both in person and remotely.
Opening ceremonies can be viewed on TVW for both the House and the Senate. Washingtonians can keep up with the legislative activity using the Legislature’s website and live streaming video on TVW.
To find out which bills are being considered by the Legislature this year, visit the Topical Index or search bills by bill number, keyword, or statute chapter or section number. The Legislature has provided detailed instructions on searching for bills here. In addition, several news outlets have summarized major legislation being considered this year. According to sources like Crosscut and KNKX, topics to watch include housing affordability, education, public safety, education, and mental health.
Here are some common questions we receive at the library about researching current legislation:
How do I determine the status of a bill I’m interested in?
Detailed legislative status reports can be run on specific bills, a range of bills, or all session bills at the Legislature’s Bill Status Report page. If you have bills that you would like to track throughout the legislative session, you can register for a bill tracking account. Quick status tools are also available at the Legislative Information Center’s website. Action taken by the Governor for bills passed by the Legislature will be listed on the Governor’s Bill Action page.
I heard I can testify remotely on a bill in a committee hearing. Is this true?
Remote testimony will continue for most hearings in 2023. Testimony may also be submitted in writing. According to the 2023 guidelines , the Senate will be “[u]tilizing new hearing room technology that has integrated Zoom features into the hearing room AV system, the Committees can receive testimony from the public both in person, and remotely. The public will have the opportunity to sign in to testify on-line using the same web-portal that has been used over the past two sessions, as well as, in person as [sic] at kiosks located on the Capital Campus.”
Locate the committee considering a bill by searching the bills or checking the Topical Index. Then look at committee schedules, agendas, and review documents here, before finding the House, Senate, or Joint Committee meeting remote testimony sign in here. More information on your testimony options, along with tips on testifying, can be found at the Legislature’s website.
What legislative materials can I access at the Legislature’s website besides just the bills?
You can find a bill using one of the search features at the Legislature’s Bill Information page, which includes a topical index and cross-reference by statute number or chapter. Once you find a specific bill, you can access the text of the original bill, as well as substitute bills and the law as it passed the Legislature. Bills can be amended at various stages of the legislative process, and amendments, whether adopted or not, can be accessed at the bill history page. You can also find the bill digest, bill reports, fiscal notes, and committee hearing videos.
What do all of these legislative terms mean?
When we are stumped by legislative terms we use the Legislature’s Glossary of Legislative Terms. Educators may find the printable version of the glossary helpful in the classroom.
I want to contact my legislator. I don’t even know my legislative district. Is there a quick way to find that out?
Yes! Go to the Washington State Legislative District Finder and enter your address. Your legislative district and state representative and senator will be listed on a map. Click on a legislator’s name and you will be directed to their information with an email link. This works for your federal congressional district too! The Legislature’s website also has a How to comment on a bill information page and a publication called Methods for Contacting Your Legislators.
The Washington State Law Library is equipped to help you with your legislative research needs. If you don’t see an answer to your question here or need assistance with researching older legislation, please give us a call at 360–357–2136. You can also email us at library.requests@courts.wa.gov if you would like a copy of our legislative history research guide or would like assistance by email. (WB)
