State relations

Washington State Legislature

The Washington State legislature is a bicameral body, similar to U.S. Congress, with an upper chamber called the Senate and a lower chamber called The House of Representatives. There are 49 legislative districts in Washington State; each district is served by one Senator and two House members. There are a total of 147 legislators, with 98 House Representatives and 49 Senators. Members of the Senate are elected to four-year terms, and the House members are elected to two-year terms.

The Senate and House of Representatives meet in session each year to create new laws, change existing laws and enact budgets for the State. The legislative cycle is two years long. Within that two-year cycle, there are two kinds of legislative sessions: regular sessions and extraordinary, or special, sessions. Regular sessions are mandated by the State Constitution and begin the second Monday in January each year. In odd-numbered years (the budget year), the legislature meets for 105 days and in even-numbered years for 60 days.

Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson (D)

Bob Ferguson began his public service career after earning his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1999. He first served as a Deputy King County Prosecutor before being elected to the King County Council in 2003, where he worked on regional transportation and land use issues. In 2012, Ferguson was elected Washington’s Attorney General, focusing on consumer protection, environmental advocacy, and the defense of residents’ rights. In 2024, he was elected Governor of Washington, bringing his broad experience in law, local government, and state service to the office.

Contact

Phone: 360.902.4111
Governor’s website