2025 Washington state legislative session begins

by Laurel Demkovich and Jerry Cornfield, Washington State Standard
January 13, 2025

There was plenty of pomp and politics for the opening day of the Washington Legislature’s 2025 session.

It began at noon Monday for the state’s 98 representatives and 49 senators. 

But for many, the day didn’t end until the dinner hour as they went from taking their oath of office to listening to residents and lobbyists testify about the looming budget shortfall and a range of policy issues, like limiting rent increases and the environmental effects of fashion.

The House grabbed the early spotlight as Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, spoke to lawmakers on tackling the budget deficit and bracing for conflicts between the state and the incoming Trump administration.  

“We will protect the investments we’ve made to help working families, and have a balanced budget,” she said. Washington’s Legislature began its 2025 session Monday. Reps. Davina Duerr, Darya Farivar and Liz Berry (l-r) and Steve Bergquist take part in the ceremonies on Jan. 13, 2025. (Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard)

House Minority Leader Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn, focused his opening day floor speech on areas where he said Washington is failing: Costs of gas, groceries and housing are too high, the state is in a public safety crisis due to a “culture of lawlessness,” and education outcomes are subpar.

Stokesbary criticized Jinkins for focusing on “the other Washington” in advance of President-elect Donald Trump taking office next week. He urged her to spend more time on issues affecting Washington state.  Rep. Deb Manjarrez, who was elected from the newly redrawn 14th Legislative District in November, on the House floor on Jan. 13, 2025. (Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard)

Traditionally, opening day in the Senate is a more ceremonial event compared to the House. Much of Monday’s 90-minute session was devoted to administering the oath of office to each senator elected in November or appointed to a seat in the chamber since then.

Unlike the House, leaders of the Democratic and Republican caucuses did not make speeches. 

But Sen. Steve Conway made arguably the most important pledge following his election as Senate president pro tem.

Conway, a Tacoma Democrat, will preside over the Senate when Lt. Gov. Denny Heck is unavailable. In brief remarks, he vowed to do what he can to ensure the Legislature gets its work done in its allotted 105 days. 

“That will be my purpose,” he said. Newly appointed Sen. Vandana Slatter, center, and Sen. Steve Conway, left. (Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard)

It’s a safe bet the other 146 members of the Legislature share his goal and would like to wrap up as scheduled on April 27.

The Standard’s reporters were at the Capitol throughout opening day and provided the updates below. jQuery(document).ready(function(){ jQuery(‘.scroll-to’).click(function(e){ e.preventDefault(); var destination_element_id = jQuery(this).attr(‘href’); // accommodate inclusion of # in front destination_element_id = destination_element_id.replace(‘#’,”); // Top offset so content scrolled to is not under top header bar var top_offset = 100; // scroll to the element with the id in the href jQuery([document.documentElement, document.body]).animate({ scrollTop: jQuery(‘#’+destination_element_id).offset().top – top_offset }, 1000); }) }); jQuery(document).ready(function() { var state = “closed”; var panel = jQuery(“.navRowSubContainer”); jQuery(“#accordianSwitchLiveFeed”).on( “click”, function() { if (state === “closed”) { panel.show(); state = “open”; jQuery(“#accordianSwitchLiveFeed”).html( ” ); } else { panel.hide(); state = “closed”; jQuery(“#accordianSwitchLiveFeed”).html( ” ); } })})

Key Events

5 hours agoSenate gets a new backup president

5 hours agoStokesbary says Washington ‘deserves better’

5 hours agoCalls for fiscal discipline, no rent caps

5 hours agoBudget woes and Trump top of mind for House speaker

5 hours agoJinkins reelected Speaker of the House

5 hours agoHouse members sworn in

5 hours agoAn upbeat start

6 hours agoSenate is in session too!

6 hours agoAction getting underway in the House

14 hours agoDay one of 105

14 hours agoImportant dates and deadlines

5 hours ago

Senate gets a new backup president

By: Jerry Cornfield – 1:31 pm

Sen. Steve Conway has been elected Senate president pro tem on a 47-0 vote. Conway is in his 15th year in the Senate following 18 years in the House.

Conway, a Tacoma Democrat, will preside over the Senate when Lt. Gov. Denny Heck is unavailable. In short remarks, Conway vowed to do what he can to ensure the Legislature finishes its work in the allotted 105 days. “That will be my purpose,” he said.

Conway succeeds Karen Keiser who retired in December following 30 years in the Legislature.

The vote tally in support of Conway initially appeared to be 47-1. But that was due to a mixup. Two lawmakers were absent for the vote.

Last updated: 1:57 pm

5 hours ago

Stokesbary says Washington ‘deserves better’

By: Laurel Demkovich – 1:26 pm

In a floor speech, House Minority Leader Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn, pointed to ways he believes Washington is failing: Costs of gas, groceries and housing are too high, the state is in a public safety crisis due to a “culture of lawlessness,” and education outcomes are subpar.

“Unfortunately, I think Washington keeps falling further behind,” Stokesbary said. 

He urged lawmakers to focus on making Washington safer, funding schools and special education, avoiding new taxes and making the state more affordable. 

“Our communities deserve better, our neighbors deserve better, our children and grandchildren deserve better,” Stokesbary said. “These problems don’t lend themselves to easy solutions, much less fast ones, but Republicans are committed to solving them.” 

Stokesbary criticized Jinkins for focusing on “the other Washington” in advance of President-elect Donald Trump taking office. He urged her to spend more time on issues affecting Washington state. The comment was met with applause from Republicans.

Last updated: 1:27 pm

5 hours ago

Calls for fiscal discipline, no rent caps

By: Jerry Cornfield – 1:08 pm

The leader of Washington’s largest business organization marked the opening day of session by urging lawmakers “to champion the economy and make choices that help job-creators to grow, rather than creating new regulations or raising taxes that place heavier burdens on employers.”

Kris Johnson, president of the Association of Washington Business, said the forecasted budget shortfall “is a situation created by unsustainably high spending decisions made in recent years, not by a lack of tax revenue.” 

“We need fiscal discipline,” he said in the statement. “This is not a crisis and it’s not a time to raise taxes. There are hard decisions ahead. Employers are ready to help craft practical solutions and find common ground.”

Meanwhile, opponents of a proposed rent stabilization measure donned red “No Cap” t-shirts and gathered in the rotunda where lawmakers couldn’t miss them as they entered the House and Senate chambers. 

The men and women planned to testify at a hearing Monday on House Bill 1217 which seeks to impose statewide limits on rent increases. Opponents of a rent stabilization bill in the Washington state Legislature wore these shirts when lawmakers convened the 2025 session on Jan. 13, 2025. (Jerry Cornfield/Washington State Standard)

Last updated: 1:18 pm

5 hours ago

Budget woes and Trump top of mind for House speaker

By: Laurel Demkovich – 1:00 pm

House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, focused her opening day speech to lawmakers on tackling the state’s budget deficit and responding to the incoming Trump administration. 

Jinkins said lawmakers will be working with “less expected revenue while trying to do more for our people.” She said budget writers will start by reviewing current spending and then look at revenue options that are “balanced, fair, and move us toward a less regressive tax structure.”  House Speaker Laurie Jinkins addresses House lawmakers on the first day of the 2025 legislative session, Jan. 13, 2025, in Olympia. (Laurel Demkovich/Washington State Standard)

“We have a responsibility to invest in what matters most — our people,” Jinkins said. “We will protect the investments we’ve made to help working families, and have a balanced budget.”

She also emphasized the need to bring down costs for housing, child care and health care, strengthen the workforce, and increase public safety.

A big source of uncertainty for the Legislature this year is the new federal administration. President-elect Donald Trump takes off next week. Jinkins said lawmakers will be “proactive and vigilant” at protecting Washington’s values. 

“We will govern during these uncertain times as we always do: leading with courage, compassion, and hope,” she said. “We will reject attempts to divide us with fear, anger, and hate. We will center the people and communities directly impacted by the decisions we make.”

5 hours ago

Jinkins reelected Speaker of the House

By: Laurel Demkovich – 12:47 pm

Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, was reelected House Speaker.

Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, D-Burien, nominated Jinkins. “I don’t know anyone who cares as much about the individual wellbeing of all of us in this chamber, regardless of our party or where we come from,” Fitzgibbon said.

Rep. Chris Corry, R-Yakima, nominated House Minority Leader Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn. “If we were to elect Rep. Stokesbary as our leader, we would see somebody who could lead us through what are going to be challenging times,” Corry said. 

Jinkins won on a party-line vote. This will be her sixth session serving in the role.

Last updated: 12:48 pm

5 hours ago

House members sworn in

By: Laurel Demkovich – 12:43 pm

After a roll call of all 98 House members, Justice Steven González swears them all in at once. Following the oath of office, cheers echoed through the chamber, and members shook hands and shared hugs.  Members of the Washington state House of Representatives are sworn into office by state Supreme Court Justice Steven González, on Jan. 13, 2025 in Olympia. (Laurel Demkovich/Washington State Standard)

Last updated: 1:03 pm

5 hours ago

An upbeat start

By: Jerry Cornfield – 12:39 pm

As each state senator is sworn in, they receive a standing ovation. It is a time-honored ritual and one that tends to get the session off to an upbeat start. But there are still 104-and-a-half days ahead for jousting.

Last updated: 12:41 pm

6 hours ago

Senate is in session too!

By: Jerry Cornfield – 12:18 pm

Lt. Gov. Denny Heck has gaveled the 2025 session to order.

“This is a special place,” Heck said at the start of brief remarks welcoming the members.

He tells the senators they have a very important job, reminding them that the power with which they are entrusted is “held in trust with the folks who sent you here.”

Justice Debra Stephens is swearing in senators who won re-election in November. First up is Senate Minority Leader John Braun.

Family members and friends of senators are watching from the galleries. However, Sen. Yasmin Trudeau, D-Tacoma, brought one to the floor, her young daughter, Naya. The 2025 Washington state Legislative session gets underway on the Senate side of the Capitol, on Jan. 13, 2025. (Jerry Cornfield/Washington State Standard) Democratic state Sen. Yasmin Trudeau hold her daughter Naya and her certificate of election. Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, right, presented the certificate on Jan. 13, 2025, the opening day of the Washington Legislature’s 2025 session. (Jerry Cornfield / Washington State Standard)

Last updated: 12:51 pm

6 hours ago

Action getting underway in the House

By: Laurel Demkovich – 12:10 pm

The House of Representatives has gaveled in for their 2025 legislative session. 

House members walked in to cheers from family, friends and members of the public in the galleries. 

Uke Uprising, a group of female singers and ukulele players, help open the session with performances of “America the Beautiful” and “This Land is Your Land” with Washington-specific lyrics like “from the Salish waters to the San Juan Islands.” Lawmakers gather in the House chamber as the 2025 Washington legislative session begins on Jan. 13, 2025. (Laurel Demkovich/Washington State Standard)

Last updated: 12:37 pm

14 hours ago

Day one of 105

By: Washington State Standard Staff – 4:05 am

The first day of the 2025 Washington state legislative session has arrived, with opening ceremonies at noon in the House and Senate at the state Capitol in Olympia.

Heading into the session, the topic grabbing the most attention is a budget gap of around $10 billion to $12 billion over the next four years.

Democratic leaders say new or higher taxes will likely need to be part of the fix. Republicans say the state has a spending problem and tax hikes are not the answer. Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson, who will be sworn in Wednesday, swooped in last week with his own budget framework, which calls for 6% cuts at most state agencies. But the estimated savings from the path Ferguson charted won’t be enough to eliminate the shortfall. Ferguson is also distancing himself from the idea of a new “wealth tax,” something progressives support and that outgoing Gov. Jay Inslee included in his final budget proposal.

Beyond the budget, legislation to cap rent increases, debates over school funding, and bills to impose new gun restrictions are just a few of the other high-profile topics poised to come up in the weeks ahead. Plus, there are questions about how the Legislature might respond to federal policies in areas like immigration that the incoming Trump administration could pursue.

From opening day until the final gavel drops, the Standard will have reporters on the scene at the Capitol bringing you the latest. And throughout the day today, we’ll be posting live updates below.

If you’re looking to get up to speed, we’ve put together a set of guides to help. You can find those here:The Standard’s guide to the legislative sessionThe Legislature, by the numbersA guide to understanding the Washington state budgetNew faces of the 2025 legislative sessionSix lawmakers to watch in Washington’s 2025 session

For some of our most recent budget-related coverage, see here:Ferguson pitches spending cuts, voices skepticism of ‘wealth tax’Tax debate hangs heavy over approaching Washington legislative sessionInslee proposes taxing wealthy residents and businesses to close Washington’s budget gapMaking sense of Washington’s multi-billion dollar budget hole

Last updated: 5:52 pm

14 hours ago

Important dates and deadlines

By: Washington State Standard Staff – 4:02 am

Here are some of the important dates and deadlines that will come up during the session.2025-draft-cutoff-calendar-long

A draft calendar of cutoff dates during the 2025 Washington state Legislative session. (Washington State Legislature)

Last updated: 4:02 am

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