Capitol News
April 17, 2017
Melissa Johnson, WSLHA Lobbyist

With just one week left to go in the 105-day regular session, legislators' work now turns to reviewing bills that the opposite chamber has amended. For a bill to move on to the Governor's desk for signature into law, it must pass both the House and Senate in the same form. When, for example, the Senate amends a House bill, the House must then vote to either accept the change or reject it. If the House accepts the change and passes the bill, then the bill moves to the Governor. If the House rejects the change, the chambers negotiate further to determine the final version of the bill. The House and Senate must do this work before they adjourn on Sunday April 23rd. If they cannot reach agreement, the bill dies.

Budget negotiations have yet to start between the House and Senate, so a special session is all but guaranteed. The Legislature and the Governor must then decide whether to bring all legislators back immediately or call back only the budget negotiators. Special sessions are called for 30 days, and multiple special sessions have been necessary in past budget years.

WSLHA High Priority Bills