Bill Action

We cannot hold public bill signings at this time due to the extraordinary circumstances to protect the public’s health. Members of the public can view the bill signings on TVW. 

Bill Action Scheduled

No bill action scheduled at this time.

 

Bill Action Taken

Bill Number Chamber Description Governor's Action Signed Datesort descending
5211 Senate Relating to social networking accounts and profiles. Signed Mon, May. 20, 2013
5362 Senate Relating to recommendations of the vocational rehabilitation subcommittee for workers' compensation. Signed Mon, May. 20, 2013
5389 Senate Relating to sibling visitation or contact for children in foster care. Signed Mon, May. 20, 2013
5405 Senate Relating to extended foster care services. Signed Mon, May. 20, 2013
5417 Senate Relating to the annexation of unincorporated territory within a code city. Signed Mon, May. 20, 2013
5456 Senate Relating to detentions under the involuntary treatment act. Signed Mon, May. 20, 2013
5480 Senate Relating to mental health involuntary commitment laws. Signed Mon, May. 20, 2013
5591 Senate Relating to confidential license plates, drivers' licenses, identicards, and vessel registrations. Signed Mon, May. 20, 2013
5595 Senate Relating to child care reform. Signed Mon, May. 20, 2013
5603 Senate Relating to establishing the Washington coastal marine advisory council and the Washington marine resources advisory council. Signed Mon, May. 20, 2013
5732 Senate Relating to improving behavioral health services provided to adults in Washington State. Signed Mon, May. 20, 2013
5744 Senate Relating to reporting on the progress of the logger safety initiative. Signed Mon, May. 20, 2013
2075 House Relating to preserving funding deposited into the education legacy trust account used to support common schools and access to higher education by restoring the application of the Washington estate and transfer tax to certain property transfers while modifying the estate and transfer tax to provide tax relief for certain estates. Signed Thu, Jun. 13, 2013
5296 Senate Relating to the model toxics control act. Signed Thu, Jun. 13, 2013
2042 House Modifying the nursing facility medicaid payment system by delaying the rebase of certain rate components and extending certain rate add-ons. Signed Thu, Jun. 27, 2013
1947 House Relating to ensuring the ongoing sustainability and vitality of the Washington health benefit exchange by providing a financing mechanism sufficient to defray the exchange's operating expenses. Signed Sat, Jun. 29, 2013
1961 House Relating to judicial stabilization trust account surcharges. Signed Sat, Jun. 29, 2013
1971 House Relating to communications services reform. Signed Sat, Jun. 29, 2013
2043 House Relating to temporarily suspending inflationary increases in educational employee compensation. Signed Sat, Jun. 29, 2013
2051 House Relating to implementation of basic education expenditures. Signed Sat, Jun. 29, 2013
2069 House Signed Sat, Jun. 29, 2013
5034 Senate Relating to fiscal matters. Signed / Partial Veto Sat, Jun. 29, 2013
5367 Senate Relating to Yakima river basin water resource management. Signed Sat, Jun. 29, 2013
5644 Senate Relating to license issuance fees of former contract liquor stores, former state store auction buyers, and spirits distributors. Signed Sat, Jun. 29, 2013
5882 Senate Relating to creating, expanding, or extending tax preferences. Signed Sat, Jun. 29, 2013

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Bill Action FAQs

When does a bill reach the governor’s desk?

Before the governor signs a bill, it must first be signed in open session in both the Senate and House. Once the house speaker and senate president sign the bill, it’s delivered to the governor’s office. This process can take several days following the passage of a bill by the Legislature.

How long does the governor have to sign a bill?

Bills that are delivered to the governor more than five days before the Legislature adjourns have five days to be acted on. Bills that are delivered fewer than five days before the Legislature adjourns have 20 days to be acted on by the governor.

How are the five days and the 20 days counted?

Both are counted as calendar days, not business days. Sundays are not counted, but Saturdays and state holidays are counted.

How are bills scheduled for action, whether they are five-day or 20-day bills?

The governor’s office schedules bill signings. Often they are signed in the governor’s office in the order they are received; however:

  • Bills may be grouped together by issue or location. For example, several education bills may be signed at the same time or bills affecting a region of the state may be signed together in that region.
  • Legislators can request a specific date for signing.
How do I find out when a bill is going to be signed?

The bill action schedule and memos are posted on this website above. Always double check the bill action schedule on the day of your bill signing as sometimes bills may be held at the last minute for further consideration.

 

I’d like to attend a bill signing. What do I need to know?
  • The bill action notice gives the location and time of the bill signing. Possible locations include:
    • Governor’s Conference Room on the second floor of the Legislative Building
    • State Reception Room on the third floor of the Legislative Building
    • Off-site locations around the state
  • Capitol Campus building map is available here.
  • Parking information for the Capitol Campus is available here.
  • There are often large groups at bill signings so when you arrive, we ask that you find your bill number and line up in the hallway. Our staff will call groups into the conference room when their bill is being signed.
  • Children are welcome. Service animals only are also allowed in the office.
  • During the signing, guests should form a group behind the governor. The spots immediately to the governor’s left and right are reserved for the legislators who sponsored the bill. After the governor gives brief remarks, a photographer will take a group photo available for purchase here. The bill signings are also recorded and available for viewing on tvw.org.
  • After the photos, our staff will pass out ceremonial pens to commemorate the signing.
  • Guests should then exit the conference room through the rear door.

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