HR 4662
In CommitteeHouse
House/interim periods
Providing for House business during interim.
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 clarifies and expands the authority of the House of Representatives to conduct official business—including studies, hearings, and committee work—between legislative sessions. It authorizes remote participation, interim committee powers, and administrative support to ensure continuity of legislative work.
- The Executive Rules Committee may assign bills, memorials, and resolutions to House committees for interim study.
- The Speaker of the House may create special or select committees for interim work, with committee member appointments approved by the Executive Rules Committee.
- Committees and task forces may hold work sessions and public hearings during the interim without a quorum, and remote participation counts toward quorum and voting.
- Authorized committees gain subpoena power, power to administer oaths, and power to issue witness commissions—but only if specifically authorized by the Executive Rules Committee for specific topics.
- The Chief Clerk may approve member vouchers for interim expenses (per diem, mileage), hire staff, order supplies, retain contractors (including for workplace investigations), and execute warrants for legislative expenses.
- The Chief Clerk may authorize use of House chambers and facilities during the interim, and may send official condolences (e.g., flowers, letters) on behalf of the House.
Who is affected
- Members of the Washington State House of Representatives — Members of the House of Representatives gain clearer authority to conduct official work—including studies, hearings, and committee actions—between legislative sessions, and can participate remotely with full voting rights during interim meetings.
- Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives — The Chief Clerk gains expanded authority to manage House operations during the interim, including hiring staff, approving expenses, issuing contracts, and completing session records.
- Executive Rules Committee — The Executive Rules Committee gains oversight authority over interim committee activities, including assigning subjects, approving meeting details, and authorizing special committees.
- Washington residents and stakeholders engaged in legislative process — The public may have increased opportunities to participate in interim committee work through public hearings and remote access, even when formal quorums are not required.
Pro/Con Analysis
Potential Benefits (2)
Allowing remote participation to count toward quorum and voting improves accessibility for members with disabilities, caregiving responsibilities, or geographic constraints, promoting broader participation and inclusivity in legislative work.
Local GovernmentRef: Section: 'members shall be considered present for purposes of a quorum and voting' when participating remotelyFormalizing interim committee work enables more thorough pre-session review of legislation, potentially improving bill quality, reducing last-minute amendments, and allowing for more informed floor debates during the regular session.
Local GovernmentRef: Section: 'The Executive Rules Committee may assign bills... to authorized committees for study during the interim'
Potential Concerns (3)
The resolution allows committees to conduct official business—including public hearings—without a quorum, potentially weakening the deliberative integrity of legislative decision-making by enabling actions with minimal member participation.
Local GovernmentRef: Section: 'Committees and task forces may hold work sessions and public hearings during the interim without a quorum'The resolution authorizes interim expenditures—including per diem, staff contracts, and facility use—from existing House appropriations, but provides no new funding, potentially diverting resources from other legislative priorities or creating budgetary uncertainty if interim activity expands unexpectedly.
FinancialRef: Section: 'The Chief Clerk... may approve vouchers... for per diem, mileage, staff contracts, supplies, and printing'Granting subpoena power to interim committees—especially when authorized on a case-by-case basis—risks inconsistent or politically selective use of investigative authority, potentially undermining due process if applied without clear procedural safeguards.
Rights & LibertiesRef: Section: 'authorized committees have the power of subpoena... if and when specifically authorized by the Executive Rules Committee for specific purposes and specific subjects'
Who Is Most Affected
House members gain flexibility to conduct official work year-round, including remote participation and expanded committee authority, which may reduce burnout and improve legislative oversight—but also increase expectations for off-season work.
The Chief Clerk gains significant operational authority over staffing, contracts, and facility use during the interim, enhancing administrative capacity but also expanding discretionary power without new oversight mechanisms.
The Executive Rules Committee gains gatekeeping authority over committee assignments, special committee formation, and subpoena authorization—shifting influence within the legislative hierarchy toward this committee.
The public gains more opportunities to engage with legislative work during the interim via remote-access hearings, but may see less transparency if quorum rules allow committee actions with minimal member attendance.
State employees (e.g., legislative staff, contractors for investigations) may benefit from new or expanded contract opportunities, but without new funding, hiring may be constrained by existing budgets.