The Washington State Senate elected Senator Steve Conway president pro tempore and approved its permanent and emergency parliamentary rules during an organizational session held Jan. 13, 2025, in Olympia. The body also elected Senator John Lubbock as vice president pro tempore, re-elected Sarah Bannister as secretary of the Senate and confirmed committee assignments and several joint-session and procedural resolutions.

The actions set the Senate’s leadership and procedural framework for the 69th Legislature and cleared routine items needed to begin the session’s legislative work, including adopting standing rules (Senate Resolution 8603), contingency parliamentary rules for emergencies (Senate Resolution 8601) and placing several joint- and calendar-setting concurrent resolutions on the second-reading calendar.

Most consequential at the dais, by recorded roll call and voice votes: the Senate elected Steve Conway to the position of president pro tempore. The secretary’s roll call and the presiding officer’s announcement recorded 47 votes for Conway with one member absent or excused. The Senate then elected John Lubbock as vice president pro tempore (47 votes; two excused) and elected Sarah Bannister by roll call as secretary of the Senate (47 votes; two excused).

Senate members approved Senate Resolution 8603 adopting the chamber’s permanent rules and Senate Resolution 8601 adopting emergency parliamentary rules for use in specified contingencies. Both measures were adopted by voice vote with the chair saying “the ayes have it.” The Senate also confirmed committee appointments and adopted a series of concurrent resolutions to set legislative cutoff dates and to authorize scheduled joint sessions with the House and with the state’s judiciary for the state of the judiciary message.

In remarks after his election, Senator Steve Conway said, “I really thank you, very, very much for this honor. I’m humbled by this honor,” and described his intention to learn the role and work with colleagues to complete business within the statutory session period. The presiding officer opened the day with remarks to returning and new members about the duty of office and urged humility in service, saying in part, “You have an important job, a very important job, and you’re not a very important person.” Those remarks were delivered from the chair at the start of the session.

Procedural actions included the secretary’s formal reading of messages from the Secretary of State and other elected officials, the administration of oaths to newly reelected and newly appointed senators, and the appointment of small committees to notify the governor that the Senate was organized and ready to transact business. The Senate adjourned the session until 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.

Votes at a glance

- Election of president pro tempore: Senator Steve Conway — Result: elected; announced roll-call result: 47 votes for Conway; 1 excused/absent (as announced by the presiding officer).

- Election of vice president pro tempore: Senator John Lubbock — Result: elected; announced roll-call result: 47 votes for Lubbock; 2 excused.

- Election of secretary of the Senate: Sarah Bannister — Result: elected; announced roll-call result: 47 votes for Bannister; 2 excused.

- Senate Resolution 8603 (adopting permanent rules of the Senate): Result: adopted (voice vote; chair stated “the ayes have it”).

- Senate Resolution 8601 (adopting emergency parliamentary rules): Result: adopted (voice vote; chair stated “the ayes have it”).

- Senate Resolution 8600 (appointing members to notify the governor the Senate is organized): Result: adopted (voice vote).

- House Concurrent Resolution 4401 (establishing cutoff dates): Result: adopted (constitutional majority announced).

- Senate Concurrent Resolution 8401 (adopting joint rules): Result: adopted (constitutional majority announced).

- House Concurrent Resolution 4400 / 44100 (calling joint sessions and related matters as read): Result: adopted (constitutional majority announced).

- Senate Concurrent Resolution 8402 (convening a joint session to receive the state of the judiciary message): Result: adopted (constitutional majority announced).

What happened next

The Senate appointed a two-member committee to notify the governor that the chamber was organized; senators Deborah Krishnadassan and Paul Harris carried that notice. The Senate then recessed until 10:15 a.m. on Jan. 14, when legislative business will resume with the second legislative day.