SCR 8407
In CommitteeSenate
Cutoff dates
Establishing cutoff dates for the consideration of legislation during the 2026 regular session of the sixty-ninth legislature.
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 establishes strict deadlines for advancing legislation during the 2026 Washington State legislative session, ensuring most bills must pass key procedural steps by mid-February to remain eligible for floor votes. Budget, revenue, and initiative-related bills are exempt from the strictest deadlines.
- Sets February 4, 2026 as the final day for most bills to have committee reports read in their house of origin.
- Extends the deadline to February 9, 2026 for committee reports from the Senate Ways and Means, Senate Transportation, and House fiscal committees to be read in the house of origin.
- Requires all bills to be considered (e.g., voted on) in their house of origin by 5:00 p.m. on February 17, 2026.
- Sets February 25, 2026 as the final day for most bills to have committee reports from the opposite house read in the current house.
- Extends the deadline to March 2, 2026 for committee reports from the Senate Ways and Means, Senate Transportation, and House fiscal committees on opposite-house bills to be read.
- Bars consideration of most bills after 5:00 p.m. on March 6, 2026, except for budgets, revenue-related measures, initiatives, and certain administrative or procedural matters.
Who is affected
- State legislators — Lawmakers in both the Washington State Senate and House of Representatives must follow these deadlines when advancing or considering legislation during the 2026 session.
- Legislative committee staff and leadership — Staff and leadership of the Senate Ways and Means, Senate Transportation, and House fiscal committees have extended deadlines for reporting on certain bills.
- Advocacy groups and concerned citizens — Groups or individuals who support or oppose legislation must be aware of these deadlines to ensure their priorities are considered before the final cutoff.
- State agencies — State agencies may be impacted if their rulemaking, funding needs, or program changes depend on legislation that must pass by the deadlines.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
Clear, strict deadlines may improve predictability for local governments and stakeholders by reducing last-minute legislative surprises and enabling earlier planning for fiscal year 2027 budgeting and program implementation.
Local GovernmentRef: Section 1(1)–(5) and Section 2Extended deadlines for Senate Ways and Means, Senate Transportation, and House fiscal committee reports may allow more careful review of complex fiscal legislation affecting local government grants, transportation infrastructure, and school funding formulas.
Local GovernmentRef: Section 1(2) and Section 1(4) (extended deadlines for key fiscal committees)Exempting budget, revenue, and initiative-related bills ensures core fiscal and democratic processes (e.g., state budget, tax policy, voter-initiated measures) are not delayed or rushed, supporting fiscal stability for local jurisdictions.
Local GovernmentRef: Section 2 (exemptions for budgets, revenue, initiatives)Businesses and chambers of commerce may benefit from earlier clarity on regulatory or tax legislation, enabling more informed long-term planning and investment decisions.
Business & EmploymentRef: Section 1(3) and Section 2By limiting consideration to only high-priority items after March 6, the resolution may reduce the risk of last-minute, poorly vetted public safety legislation being passed under time pressure.
Public SafetyRef: Section 2 (cutoff after March 6, 2026)
Potential Concerns (5)
Shortened legislative timeline may reduce time for local governments to engage in advocacy or provide input on legislation affecting their operations, such as funding formulas, regulatory mandates, or land-use changes.
Local GovernmentRef: Section 1(3) and Section 2 (final consideration cutoff on March 6, 2026)By prioritizing budgets, revenue, and initiatives, the resolution may deprioritize local government–focused legislation (e.g., regional transportation funding, housing mandates, or public health authority expansions) that do not fall into exempt categories.
Local GovernmentRef: Section 2 (exemptions for budgets, revenue, initiatives)The resolution may increase pressure on legislative staff and committee leadership to accelerate deliberations, potentially reducing opportunities for thorough review of complex local impacts (e.g., environmental permitting reforms, school funding adjustments).
Local GovernmentRef: Section 1(1)–(5) and Section 2Law enforcement, fire, and emergency management agencies may have reduced ability to advocate for legislation addressing emerging public safety needs (e.g., wildfire response coordination, opioid crisis response) if such bills miss the March 6 cutoff.
Public SafetyRef: Section 2 (cutoff after March 6, 2026)School districts and higher education institutions may have less time to provide input on legislation affecting funding, curriculum, or student services if bills are not advanced in time under the accelerated schedule.
EducationRef: Section 1(3) and Section 2
Who Is Most Affected
Legislators face increased pressure to prioritize and advance legislation quickly, potentially limiting time for amendment negotiation or consensus-building on contentious issues.
Committee staff and leadership in key fiscal committees gain extra time for complex fiscal analysis, but all other committee staff face tighter deadlines, increasing workload intensity and risk of rushed recommendations.
Advocacy groups must front-load testimony and lobbying efforts, potentially marginalizing groups with fewer resources to mobilize quickly before early deadlines.
State agencies may be unable to respond in real time to emerging issues (e.g., natural disasters, economic shocks) if legislation addressing them misses the March 6 cutoff.