Legislature back to in-person sessions

This year’s legislature is more diverse than in the past

OLYMPIA — After two years of online and hybrid legislative sessions that severely restricted legislators’ direct contact during the pandemic, the Washington State House and Senate chambers were full of people reuniting and greeting each other during the opening of the state legislature on Monday. A main issue at the start of the session was moving past the COVID-19 pandemic and adopting new rules and procedures that allow for in-person and remote participation. President of the Senate Denny Heck, the lieutenant governor, said the rules are meant to help the communities who sent representatives to the legislature this session.