Gallagher Law Library - UW School of Law

Washington State Legislative History

Updated Nov. 1, 2010.
Prepared by Peggy Jarrett & Cheryl Nyberg.

Legislative Process & Legislative Intent

The Legislature meets annually beginning on the second Monday in January. During odd-numbered years the session lasts for 105 days; these are the budget years. During even-numbered years, the session lasts for 60 days. The Governor may call a special legislative session lasting 30 days, and the Legislature can call a special session with a two-thirds vote of both the House and Senate.

More detailed information on the Washington State legislative process is found in the following sources:

  • Legislative History in Washington, 7 U. Puget Sound L. Rev. 571 (1984). Discusses Washington courts’ use of legislative history and how to research legislative history. Available on HeinOnline. UW Restricted
  • Sine Die: A Guide to the Washington State Legislative Process (1997). JK9271.S44 1997 at Reference Area & Reference Office
  • Legislative Manual, State of Washington. KFW421.5.R8L5 at Reference Area & Reference Office. Published biennially. Includes the state constitution, joint rules, Senate rules, House rules, state officials, list of legislators and standing committees. Senate and House rules are also available on the Internet: Permanent Rules of the Senate and Permanent Rules of the House of Representatives.  
  • How a Bill Becomes a Law. A brief introduction.
  • Guide to Lawmaking. 64 pages.
  • Overview of the Legislative Process
  • Glossary of Legislative Terms
  • Statutes and Statutory Construction (6th ed.). KF425.S25 2002 at Reference Area. Volume 2A includes a general discussion of the use and relative weight of legislative history.

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Territorial Materials

See Ann Hemmens & Cheryl Nyberg, "Washington Territorial Legal Materials,” in 2 Pre-statehood Legal Materials: A Fifty-State Research Guide, Including New York City and the District of Columbia 1323-67. KF240.P688 2005 at Reference Area

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Other Jurisdictions

State Legislative History Research Guides on the Web links to guides produced by government agencies and law librarians. 

State Legislative Sourcebook: A Resource Guide to Legislative Information in the Fifty States. JK2495.S689, latest edition at Reference Office. Good source. Includes Internet sites.

"State Legislative Histories: A Select, Annotated Bibliography," 85 Law Libr. J. 545 (1993). Lists legislative resources guides for various states. Available on HeinOnline. UW Restricted

National Conference of State Legislatures, State Legislatures Internet Links

Law Librarians' Society of Washington, DC, State Legislatures, State Laws, and State Regulations provides links and phone numbers.

Pre-statehood Legal Materials: A Fifty-State Research Guide, Including New York City and the District of Columbia, 2 vols. KF240.P688 2005 at Reference Area

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