This flowchart will illustrate the steps a bill goes through to become a law in Washington State.
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A member of the Senate or the House of Representatives introduces a bill.
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The bill is passed to a committee for a hearing(s), which decides whether or not to pass it.
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The bill and committee's report are read in the Senate/House, and then referred to the Rules Committee.
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The Rules Committee either puts the bill into a reading calendar for debate in the Senate/House or ignores it.
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If a bill passes through one house (after possibly being amended), it is then put through the other one.
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If there are amendments in the second house the bill is put through, the first house must approve them.
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When a bill passes the houses, it is signed and sent to the governor.
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The governor may pass, veto or ignore the bill. If it is ignored, it may be passed anyway.
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The Washington Bill Process
More flowcharts
