WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

This is how laws get introduced: the Hopper

Staff at the Code Reviser’s Office stamp Rep. Roger Goodman’s first bill of the session after it’s put in the Hopper.

You’ll hear lawmakers talk about “dropping a bill” or “putting a bill in the Hopper.”

This is what that actually means. Staff at the Code Reviser’s Office take draft legislation from lawmakers, stamp it and make sure the text is in the proper format to turn into possible law. That’s tougher than it sounds, because the staff must look up what possible changes any legislation makes to all possible existing laws, then cross out words, sentences or entire sections of existing laws and show exactly what would replace them.

You can learn about any proposed legislation this session by going here: https://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/