The Washington State House of Representatives on the opening day of the 2025 regular session adopted temporary rules and elected Laurie Jinkins as speaker, then filled several leadership posts and announced standing committee assignments that will govern work during the 105-day session.

The body adopted House Resolution 46100 to carry forward temporary rules largely consistent with the prior biennium. Representative Fitzgibbon, who moved the resolution, said it “adopts the temporary rules of the House of Representatives” with only modest changes to committee names and membership; the resolution was adopted on a voice vote.

The House then held a roll-call election for speaker. Representative Fitzgibbon nominated Representative Laurie Jinkins; Representative Corey nominated Representative Drew Stokesberry. After the oral roll call, the chief clerk announced 58 members had voted for Laurie Jinkins, 39 for Drew Stokesberry, with one member excused. By that vote the House elected Laurie Jinkins speaker. Justice González administered the oath of office.

In her opening remarks as speaker, Laurie Jinkins urged focus on affordability and preserving investments in education, health care and housing while addressing a projected budget shortfall. “We have a responsibility to invest in what matters most,” she said, framing the session around protecting prior investments and scrutinizing spending and revenue options.

Representative Stokesberry, the Republican nominee for speaker, used his remarks to emphasize concerns about affordability, public safety and education outcomes, saying the state should prioritize victims of crime and steps to lower costs for families.

After the speaker election, the House elected Representative Chris Stearns as speaker pro tempore, Representative Tara Simmons as deputy speaker pro tempore and Bernard Dean as chief clerk; each was sworn in on the floor. All three elections were decided by voice vote or unanimous consent as announced on the floor.

The body adopted several concurrent resolutions on procedural matters. House Concurrent Resolution 44100, inviting the outgoing governor to deliver a final state of the state and inviting the governor-elect to deliver an inaugural address, and House Concurrent Resolution 4401, the chamber’s cutoff schedule resolution establishing deadlines for consideration of measures, were each advanced and adopted. The House also adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 8401, which adopts the joint rules for the two chambers.

Clerks read a full slate of standing committee assignments for the 2025 session, including chairs and ranking members for appropriations, rules, finance, capital budget, and other committees. Representative Ormsby is listed as Chair of Appropriations; Representative Jenkins serves as Rules chair; Representative Berg is listed as Finance chair; Representative Thuringer as Capital Budget chair; Representative Santos as Education chair; Representative Goodman as Chair of Community Safety; Representative Bergquist as Chair of Early Learning and Human Services. (The clerk’s full list of committee assignments was read on the floor.)

The House also adopted House Resolution 4601 to notify the governor that the House was organized and ready to conduct business and appointed members to deliver that notice. The session adjourned until the next scheduled convening at 9:55 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.

Votes at a glance: House Resolution 46100 (temporary rules) — adopted (voice vote); Speaker of the House — Laurie Jinkins elected (roll-call tally: Jinkins 58, Stokesberry 39, 1 excused); House Concurrent Resolution 44100 (invites governors to address the legislature) — adopted (voice vote); House Concurrent Resolution 4401 (cutoff schedule) — adopted (voice vote); Senate Concurrent Resolution 8401 (adopt joint rules) — adopted (voice vote); House Resolution 4601 (notify governor House is organized) — adopted (voice vote); Speaker pro tempore — Chris Stearns elected (voice vote); Deputy speaker pro tempore — Tara Simmons elected (voice vote); Chief clerk — Bernard Dean elected (voice vote).

The session opening also included ceremonial elements: the Washington State Patrol honor guard escorted flags, Cornelius Weintsberry performed the national anthem, and opening prayers and tribal welcome and blessings were offered by Reverend Annie Jones Barnes and members of the Nisqually tribal leadership. These ceremonial items occurred during the convening and the oath-taking sequence and preceded the organization and procedural business of the House.