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The
2023 Legislative Session Just Began - Here's How it Works
Washington’s 2023 Legislative
Session kicked off January 9; it is the first year of the two-year
legislative biennium. Each biennium is comprised of a long session
(105-days) and a short session (60-days) in which bills may be
enacted into law. In addition to new policy ideas, the primary
tasks of legislators during a long session are to pass the state’s
biennial budgets: Operating, Capital and Transportation.
Democrats will continue to
control the agenda in Olympia with strong majorities in both the
House and Senate. Notably, Democrats picked up one additional seat
in each chamber after the 2022 election in November. Democrats hold
the majority in the Senate (29-20) and the majority in the House
(58-40).
In addition to 22 newly
elected legislators (and 3 additional returning from retirement),
this will also be a unique year for returning legislators elected
in 2020. For some, this will be the first time working from the
Capitol campus as the past two years have been conducted virtually.
Members can pre-file bills for
introduction in the month before session begins however they are
not officially introduced until the first day of session. Click
here to view pre-filed bills for 2023.
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