HR 4712
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 formalizes how the Washington State House of Representatives conducts business during the time between legislative sessions (the interim). It authorizes the Speaker and Executive Rules Committee to assign work, create committees, and allow remote participation, while giving the Chief Clerk expanded authority to manage operations, finances, and staffing.
- 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 and appoint members (with Executive Rules Committee approval) to conduct interim work.
- Committees and task forces may hold meetings—including public hearings—without a quorum, and remote participation counts toward quorum and voting.
- Authorized committees may use subpoena power, administer oaths, and issue witness summonses if specifically authorized by the Executive Rules Committee for specific subjects.
- The Chief Clerk may hire staff, order supplies, approve vouchers, manage House records (including publishing the journal), and execute contracts for workplace investigations and other approved services.
- Members and staff may be reimbursed for travel and attendance at authorized meetings or conferences at state-approved rates.
Who is affected
- Members of the Washington State House of Representatives — Members of the House of Representatives gain authority to form special or select committees during the interim and participate in remote meetings with full voting rights.
- Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives — The Chief Clerk gains expanded administrative and operational authority—including hiring staff, managing budgets, approving vouchers, and overseeing legislative records—during the interim period.
- House committees and task forces — Committees and task forces can hold public hearings and conduct investigations during the interim using subpoena power (if authorized), without needing a quorum.
- Legislative staff, contractors, and employees — State employees and contractors involved in legislative operations may be hired or retained to support interim work, and state employees may receive reimbursement for travel and conference attendance.
- General public — The public may benefit from continued transparency and engagement as committees can hold public hearings and work sessions during the interim.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
Allowing committees to hold public hearings and conduct work during the interim—without requiring full quorums—enhances legislative responsiveness to emerging public safety issues (e.g., wildfire response, opioid crisis, emergency preparedness), enabling more timely policy development.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Section: 'Committees and task forces may hold meetings—including public hearings—without a quorum...'Expanding the Chief Clerk’s administrative authority—including hiring staff and managing logistics—improves continuity and operational efficiency of legislative services during the interim, supporting more consistent public access to legislative processes and reducing delays in bill processing.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Section: 'The Chief Clerk... may hire staff... and order necessary supplies... to enable the House... to carry out its work promptly and efficiently.'Reimbursing staff and members for travel and conference attendance during the interim supports professional development and intergovernmental coordination—benefiting public employees and enabling better-informed policy decisions that reflect local needs.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Section: 'Members and staff may be reimbursed for travel and attendance at authorized meetings or conferences at state-approved rates.'Continued public hearings and remote participation during the interim strengthens civic engagement and transparency, allowing Washingtonians to remain involved in legislative deliberations even outside formal session—especially beneficial for working families and rural residents who may not be able to attend in person.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Section: 'The public may benefit from continued transparency and engagement as committees can hold public hearings and work sessions during the interim.'Standardizing and authorizing per diem and mileage reimbursement during the interim ensures fair and consistent compensation for legislative staff and members—protecting against out-of-pocket expenses and supporting equitable participation across districts.
Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Section: 'The Chief Clerk... may approve vouchers... for official business... at the per diem rate... plus mileage.'
Potential Concerns (3)
The authorization of committee meetings without a quorum may reduce accountability and transparency, as decisions or recommendations can be made with minimal member participation—potentially undermining democratic deliberation and public oversight.
Local GovernmentRef: Section: 'Committees and task forces may hold meetings—including public hearings—without a quorum'The resolution authorizes reimbursement for travel and conference attendance during the interim, which increases operational costs for the House—though funded from existing appropriations, this could divert funds from other legislative priorities or create budget pressure during fiscal shortfalls.
FinancialRef: Section: 'Members and staff may be reimbursed for travel and attendance at authorized meetings or conferences at state-approved rates.'Expanding the Chief Clerk’s authority to execute personal services contracts—including for workplace investigations—could increase administrative complexity and reduce oversight if not properly constrained by policy or audit mechanisms.
Local GovernmentRef: Section: 'The Chief Clerk... may execute personal services contracts relating to workplace investigations...'
Who Is Most Affected
House members gain flexibility to conduct interim work remotely and form specialized committees, improving their ability to respond to constituent concerns between sessions—though this may increase expectations for continuous engagement without additional staffing support.
The Chief Clerk gains significant operational authority—including hiring, contracting, and financial management—which improves continuity but also increases responsibility and potential for oversight gaps if not balanced by clear policy constraints.
Committees gain ability to hold hearings and issue subpoenas during the interim, enabling more responsive oversight—but this power is limited to Executive Rules Committee authorization, creating a potential bottleneck or politicization of access.
Legislative staff and contractors benefit from expanded hiring authority and travel reimbursement, improving job stability and professional development—but may face increased workloads without corresponding compensation increases.
The public gains continued access to legislative processes through remote hearings and interim work—but may not see direct benefits unless committee activity translates into concrete policy outcomes.