Bill > SR8601

This resolution adopts emergency parliamentary rules for the Senate during the Sixty-Ninth Legislature's 2025 session, primarily addressing public health concerns and remote legislative operations. The rules establish a hybrid remote format for floor action, with the number of in-person members determined by the Facilities and Operations Committee, and mandate that committee hearings be conducted entirely remotely. The resolution requires Senate members and employees to follow 2023 Senate Session Guidelines regarding COVID-19 protocols, including mask-wearing and social distancing. It details specific procedures for remote voting, including how votes will be recorded and announced, and provides guidelines for a call of the Senate, floor amendments, and committee operations. The rules ensure public access to proceedings through streaming and televised platforms, and specify that when matters are not directly addressed in the emergency rules, the Permanent Senate Rules adopted on January 13, 2025, will govern. The President is authorized to interpret rules flexibly to facilitate legislative business during the ongoing emergency, with a focus on fairness and efficiency.

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=8601&Year=2025&Initiative=false