Lots of work still to do in little time in Washington’s Capitol

Posted by Joe Adamack on February 13, 2026

The Washington Legislature passed the halfway mark of the 60-day legislative session earlier this week. After spending the first part of the year in policy and fiscal committees reviewing bills, they are now having the entire House and Senate membership weigh in on what remains in play.

Legislators are spending long days – and nights – at the Capitol and will work through this weekend as bills must pass their original chamber (House or Senate) by Tuesday in order to remain alive. If legislation does survive it gets to head over to the opposite chamber and start the process all over again. The process narrows down what will ultimately get across the finish line this year.

In any given year, only about 20% of bills that are introduced are passed – and often not in their original form. Legislators introduced 1,376 new bills just this year, which are added to the more than 2,000 introduced but not yet passed from last year.

Posted in Advocacy on the Move, Washington Advocacy.