Seattle Now Weekend Listen: Washington's Legislature is part-time but some want change after 'brutal sessions,’ and Makah Tribe prepares for whale hunt while federal permit remains in limbo
Apr 11, 2026
Sarah Mises-Tan, a state government reporter who reported from Centralia, delves into Washington’s part-time legislature and why lawmakers juggle day jobs. She covers session lengths, calls for longer terms, and who can afford to serve. The conversation also previews the Makah Tribe’s preparations for a traditional whale hunt while a federal permit remains unresolved.
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Lawmaker Returns To The Forest After Session
- Representative Ed Orcutt balances lawmaking with his work as a forester and was shown measuring Douglas fir trunks in Centralia after session ended.
- His return to the woods illustrates how many legislators keep full-time jobs like forestry, bison ranching, and law practice outside session.
Part-Time Legislature Strains Under Modern Workload
- Washington's part-time legislature persists from an era of farmer-legislators but now strains to handle modern policy demands.
- Sessions are short (105 days odd years, 60 days even years) and lawmakers describe them as increasingly "brutal," forcing rushed decisions on complex bills.
Full-Time Legislature Proposal Faces Political Hurdles
- Some legislators and advocates argue switching to a full-time legislature would allow deeper policy analysis and less rushed votes.
- Proposals to change session length or the constitution have been tried but stalled in committee or failed to advance.