HCR 4404
In CommitteeHouse
Bills/to house of origin
Returning bills to their house of origin.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This resolution sets procedures for handling pending legislation at the end of the 2025 Regular Session. It requires each chamber to transfer unfinished measures from the other chamber to ensure they continue through the legislative process, and it ensures all pending measures and records are preserved and numbered consistently through any special sessions.
- Before final adjournment of the 2025 Regular Session, the House must send all pending Senate-originated measures (bills, resolutions, memorials) to the Senate, where they will be assigned to the Senate Rules Committee for third reading.
- Before final adjournment, the Senate must send all pending House-originated measures to the House, where they will be assigned to the House Rules Committee for third reading.
- All pending measures and related documents (journals, dockets, etc.) must be retained by the House Chief Clerk and Senate Secretary in their current status at the time of adjournment SINE DIE.
- Measures introduced during any special session of the 2025–26 biennium must use the same numbering sequence as the 2025 Regular Session (i.e., continue the numbering from the regular session).
Who is affected
- Washington State Legislature members and staff — Members of the legislature (representatives and senators) must follow new procedures for transferring pending measures between chambers before final adjournment.
- Washington residents and advocacy groups — Citizens and stakeholders may see changes in how and when bills move forward or expire, especially if measures are pending at the end of the regular session.
- Legislative clerks and administrative staff (House Chief Clerk and Senate Secretary) — The House and Senate leadership and clerks must ensure proper handling and retention of all pending legislative documents and measure numbers.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (3)
Ensures continuity of pending legislation across sessions by requiring retention of all measures and related documents at time of adjournment SINE DIE, reducing risk of legislative work being lost or duplicated.
Local GovernmentRef: Section 2Standardizes measure numbering across regular and special sessions, improving transparency and traceability for the public and stakeholders tracking legislation.
Local GovernmentRef: Section 3Reduces likelihood of bills dying due to procedural missteps at session end, increasing legislative efficiency and predictability for lawmakers and advocates.
Local GovernmentRef: Section 1(1) and Section 1(2)
Potential Concerns (1)
Requires House and Senate to transfer pending legislation between chambers before adjournment, adding procedural steps that increase administrative burden on legislative staff.
Local GovernmentRef: Section 1(1) and Section 1(2)
Who Is Most Affected
Legislative staff (clerks, committee assistants) will need to follow new protocols for document handoffs and retention, but this standardizes workflow and reduces risk of errors or lost bills.
Advocacy groups and citizens may benefit from increased predictability in bill progression and clearer tracking of legislation across sessions, especially for time-sensitive issues.
Clerks and administrative staff gain clearer procedural guidance and documentation standards, reducing ambiguity and potential legal challenges over measure status.