Policy Cutoff

Cutoffs are a necessary part of the legislative process, designed to keep bills moving forward. The Washington State Legislature is a part-time citizen legislature, meeting for 60 says in even numbered years and 105 days in odd numbered years. In order to ensure that bills move through the legislative process, the legislature uses a set of self imposed deadlines called cutoffs. In the 2025 session, we have just passed our first cutoff. By Friday February 21st, all bills that are not necessary to implement the budget (NTIB) must pass out of the policy committee in their House of Origin. Bills will then have one more week before the next cutoff, where they have to make it out of the fiscal committee in the House of Origin. Discussion Questions for the Classroom: Why are cutoffs important to the legislative process? When legislators are considering whether to move a piece of legislation forward, what priorities are they considering? What might make an issue “not ready yet”? What can you do to ensure that your bill makes it past the next cutoff? How can you stay engaged even if the bill does not make it past the cutoff? More Learning resources: 📚Check out our other CIVICS CURRICULA for WA middle and high school teachers: https://www.teachwithtvw.org/lesson-plans/ ======================================= Other Teach With TVW Civics Videos ======================================= 🎬 Civics 101 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SDcy6Oz3plxQCqpfNUb2HGf&feature=shared 🎬 Legislative Navigator https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SD-p5BHx443GTtGBp_DKQVT&feature=shared 🎬 Learning Modules - The Branches of WA State Government: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SBe_62ViakFyBCw4qah7eR7&feature=shared https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SDnVbfKeRWogOX6zU5BWw6b&feature=shared https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SCYOl5u2wu52tt3G7sEmNTG&feature=shared https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SAlJXemJj6KtI7saVkFFdM7&si=zodZl_faZv-ePfLH https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SCiQlpeW9JwnJepn87zNpDT&feature=shared ======================================= Other Teach With TVW Civics Programs ======================================= 🙋Capitol Classroom - Bring the Legislative process into your classroom: https://teachwithtvw.org/civic-participation-in-the-classroom/ =========================== Subscribe and Follow Teach With TVW =========================== ➡YT: @teachwithtvw360 ➡Web: https://www.teachwithtvw.org ➡FB: @Teach with TVW ➡IG: @TeachWithTVW ➡LI: @TeachWithTVW QUESTION - Have a question about our lesson plans or online videos? Drop it in the comments! ⏰ Timecodes ⏰ Teach with TVW is a free online resource provided by TVW for Washington state social studies teachers to engage their students in state government and help to inspire active citizens. #waleg #teachwithtvw #CapitolClassroom #CONNECTS #civics101 #legislativenavigator #ontheissues #electionsexplained

Cutoffs are a necessary part of the legislative process, designed to keep bills moving forward. The Washington State Legislature is a part-time citizen legislature, meeting for 60 says in even numbered years and 105 days in odd numbered years. In order to ensure that bills move through the legislative process, the legislature uses a set of self imposed deadlines called cutoffs. In the 2025 session, we have just passed our first cutoff. By Friday February 21st, all bills that are not necessary to implement the budget (NTIB) must pass out of the policy committee in their House of Origin. Bills will then have one more week before the next cutoff, where they have to make it out of the fiscal committee in the House of Origin.

Discussion Questions for the Classroom:
Why are cutoffs important to the legislative process?
When legislators are considering whether to move a piece of legislation forward, what priorities are they considering?
What might make an issue “not ready yet”?
What can you do to ensure that your bill makes it past the next cutoff?
How can you stay engaged even if the bill does not make it past the cutoff?


More Learning resources:

📚Check out our other CIVICS CURRICULA for WA middle and high school teachers: https://www.teachwithtvw.org/lesson-plans/
=======================================
Other Teach With TVW Civics Videos
=======================================
🎬 Civics 101 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SDcy6Oz3plxQCqpfNUb2HGf&feature=shared

🎬 Legislative Navigator https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SD-p5BHx443GTtGBp_DKQVT&feature=shared

🎬 Learning Modules - The Branches of WA State Government:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SBe_62ViakFyBCw4qah7eR7&feature=shared

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SDnVbfKeRWogOX6zU5BWw6b&feature=shared

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SCYOl5u2wu52tt3G7sEmNTG&feature=shared

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SAlJXemJj6KtI7saVkFFdM7&si=zodZl_faZv-ePfLH

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SCiQlpeW9JwnJepn87zNpDT&feature=shared

=======================================
Other Teach With TVW Civics Programs
=======================================

🙋Capitol Classroom - Bring the Legislative process into your classroom: https://teachwithtvw.org/civic-participation-in-the-classroom/

===========================
Subscribe and Follow Teach With TVW
===========================
➡YT: @teachwithtvw360
➡Web: https://www.teachwithtvw.org
➡FB: @Teach with TVW
➡IG: @TeachWithTVW
➡LI: @TeachWithTVW

QUESTION - Have a question about our lesson plans or online videos? Drop it in the comments!

⏰ Timecodes ⏰

Teach with TVW is a free online resource provided by TVW for Washington state social studies teachers to engage their students in state government and help to inspire active citizens.

#waleg #teachwithtvw #CapitolClassroom #CONNECTS #civics101 #legislativenavigator #ontheissues #electionsexplained

YouTube Video tIhTTQAwfeg
05:00

Cutoffs are a necessary part of the legislative process, designed to keep bills moving forward. The Washington State Legislature is a part-time citizen legislature, meeting for 60 says in even numbered years and 105 days in odd numbered years. In order to ensure that bills move through the legislative process, the legislature uses a set of self imposed deadlines called cutoffs. The Policy Committee cutoff is the first in the series of cutoffs – in the 2025 Legislative Session, this first cutoff was on Friday, February 21st when all bills that are not necessary to implement the budget (NTIB) must pass out of the policy committies in their House of Origin. Bills will then have one more week before the next cutoff, where they have to make it out of the fiscal committee in their House of Origin. 

Essential Questions:

  • What are the basic steps of the legislative process?
  • How are time and priorities effectively managed?

Teacher Resources

Series