The Law Library Guide to the Washington State Legislature
We are halfway through the 2020 “short session” of Washington State’s sixty-sixth legislature. But it is not too late to get in on the legislative action. Bills are receiving final consideration in their house of origin until 5 p.m., February 19, which is the last day for bills to be passed. Such cutoff date information as well as other legislative agendas, schedules and calendars can be checked at the legislature’s website.
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.
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. 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?
Even we librarians get confused by legislative terms. When we are stumped 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.
I heard I can now testify remotely on a bill in a committee hearing. Is this true?
You may be able to testify remotely. There are some pilot programs that are currently operating or you may able to request to testify remotely. To find out the specifics, visit the Senate Committee Remote Testimony page or the House Remote Testimony Pilot Program 2020 page. More information on your testimony options, along with tips on testifying, can be found at the legislature’s website.
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. (SC)
