Advocacy Terminology 101 

By Molly Firth, MCG Consulting (Estimated reading time: 5 minutes)

Advocacy sometimes feels like it has its own language. The Legislative process is complicated and can be off-putting if you don’t know all the jargon. In my role as a consultant supporting advocacy work at PEPS, I have the unique opportunity to work closely with policymakers, advocacy coalitions, and others working within the legislative system, and help demystify the legislative process so community members can learn and engage in this important work.  

I want to simplify advocacy terminology as much as possible so that our community feels more confident advocating for things they care about. Check out this glossary of important advocacy and policy terms relevant to Washington state government:   

Advocacy: An activity by an individual or group that aims to influence decisions within political, economic, and social institutions.   

Adjourn Sine Die: To conclude the current legislative session. 

Amendment: Any change in a bill.  

Appropriation: A legislative allocation of money for a specific purpose. 

Biennium: Two-year period. The Washington State fiscal biennium is from July 1 of odd-numbered years to June 30, two years later.  

Bill: A proposed law presented to the Legislature for consideration. 

Budget proviso: Language in budget bills that places conditions and limitations on the use of appropriations. 

Coalition: A group of like-minded organizations or individuals who unite to create policy change.  

Companion bill: A bill introduced with the same language in both the House and Senate.  

Conference committee: A committee which may be appointed to discuss specific differences of opinion between the House and Senate on bills which have passed each house but with differing positions on one or more amendments.  

Cutoff dates: Deadlines set by a legislative body for specific action such as bill introduction, committee action, or passage off the floor of either house.  

Decision package: Budget requests submitted by state agencies and considered by the Governor in forming their proposed budget. 

Executive action: 1. Executive action of a standing committee refers to final consideration of a bill by the committee. 2. Executive action on a bill already passed by both houses refers to action taken by the Governor. 

Executive session: A meeting for committee members to discuss and take action on bills they wish to report out of committee. These meetings are open to the public, but no testimony is taken.  

Fiscal committee: Any committee that deals with the allocation of funds or the raising of revenue.  

Fiscal note: An estimate of the expected cost of a measure to state and/or local government. Fiscal notes are prepared by the affected state agencies and the Office of Financial Management. 

Fiscal year: The state’s fiscal year extends from July 1 through June 30 of the following year and is named for the calendar year in which it ends. As of December 2023, we are currently in state Fiscal Year 2024. (Confusingly, the federal fiscal year runs October 1 through September 30, and the city/county fiscal year runs January 1 through December 31.) 

Governor’s budget: The Governor considers the information from revenue forecasts, state agency requests, priorities expressed by residents – as well as the Governor’s own priorities – and crafts a budget for the coming year or biennium. The proposed budget is shared with the Legislature and public and is due in December, the month before the Legislature convenes in regular session. 

House Bill (HB): Bills introduced in the House, followed by a number based on the order they were introduced. A House bill that passes the House will move on to the Senate. 

House of origin/first house: The chamber in which a piece of legislation originates (House or Senate). 

House of Representatives: The lower house (or chamber) of the Washington State Legislature. 

Interim: Time between legislative sessions. 

Law: Common law is law set by precedent in court and by interpretation of the Constitution and statute law. Statute law is governing action or procedure approved through the legislative process. 

Legislative Session: The period of time during which the Legislature meets. 

Policy committee: Any non-fiscal committee which considers legislation. A policy committee reviews and amends legislation before sending it to the House or Senate floor for a vote. (Some bills instead go to a fiscal committee because they deal with the allocation of funds or the raising of revenue.) 

Public hearing: A legislative committee meeting at which members of the public, experts, and other stakeholders present testimony on matters under consideration (usually bills) by the committee. Denoted as “public” because it is open to public attendance and viewing. 

Regulation: Rules adopted by the executive branch and agencies of each state. These regulations provide guidance on how to follow the laws (statutes) passed by the Legislature. 

Regular session: A regular session in Washington State is 60 days (including holidays and weekends) for an even year (short session), and 105 days (including holidays and weekends) for an odd year (long session). 

Senate: The upper house of the Washington State Legislature.  

Senate Bill (SB): Bills introduced in the Senate, followed by a number based on the order they were introduced. A Senate bill that passes the Senate will move on to the House. 

Special session: A session of no more than 30 days, convened by the Governor or the Legislature, following adjournment of the regular session.  

State agency: Every state office, department, division, bureau, board, commission, or other state agency. 

Testimony: A formal written or spoken statement that describes how a proposed policy will impact someone’s life or the lives of others. People can provide written testimony, state their position on a bill, or register to provide testimony on a bill either in person or remotely.  

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