WA House Announces Fully Remote Session, Citing COVID Concerns

OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington House will remain fully remote for the start of its 2022 session.

Despite earlier plans to return for in-person deliberation, the House on Monday released an updated plan to revert the 60-day session back to remote floor votes. As the Associated Press first reported, when the session begins next Monday, just five members will be allowed on the House floor: two members of each caucus and the presiding officer. Those five members and any staff working onsite will be required to show proof of vaccination, proof they've received their booster, and will need to be tested for COVID-19 three days a week.

Supporters of the remote legislation plan say the recent increase in new COVID-19 cases, driven by the rise of the more-transmissible omicron variant, requires them to proceed with caution. At its current rate, the omicron variant is primed to surpass the delta-driven fifth wave of infections which began in late summer.

Under the approved policy, more lawmakers may return to the floor if case counts begin to decline.

However, the decision to continue remotely was not unanimous, and divided largely along partisan lines. When the Executive Rules Committee approved the policy on Friday, the four Democratic members voted in favor of the remote session, but three Republican members opposed it, AP reported.

A Senate Democrats spokesman told the Associated Press the senate is also considering a remote 2022 session plan, but that it would need the approval of the Senate Facilities and Operations Committee.

The 2021 legislative session begins Monday, Jan. 10.