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SR 8638

Recognizing and honoring the Washington state Sikh American community and the joyous Vaisakhi celebration.

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Phil Fortunato and 8 co-sponsors

Amends Senate Rule 10 to expand who may be admitted to the floor and wings during sessions, including press, and remove the requirement that a senator accompany guests.

Adopted.
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SR 8638

Summary — Senate Resolution 8638 (SR 8638)

Status: Adopted
Classification: Senate resolution (ceremonial and internal rule amendment)
Key dates: Adopted April 14, 2023; Adopted March 26, 2025
Sponsors: Senator Shewmake (2023 text); substitute co-sponsors Fortunato, Hasegawa, Kauffman, Kuderer, Lovelett, Stanford, Torres, Wagoner (2023). Senator Dhingra (2025).

Note on numbering: The SR 8638 designation appears in two different adopted texts. One (adopted 4/14/2023) is a ceremonial recognition of the Sikh American community and the Vaisakhi celebration. A later SR 8638 (adopted 3/26/2025) is an internal amendment to the Senate’s Rule 10 governing who may be admitted to the Senate floor and adjacent areas during sessions. Both are resolutions and were certified by the Secretary of the Senate.

Purpose and intent

  • 2023 text: To formally recognize and honor Washington State’s Sikh American community and to extend the Senate’s wishes for a joyous Vaisakhi (Khalsa Day) celebration. It highlights Sikhism’s origins, global and U.S. adherent counts, cultural and economic contributions, and the religious significance of Vaisakhi (harvest festival, Sikh New Year, and commemoration of the creation of the Khalsa in 1699).
  • 2025 text: To amend Senate Rule 10 (admissions to the floor, wings, and adjacent areas) to clarify and modify who may be admitted during the period beginning half an hour before convening until adjournment or a recess of an hour or more.

Key provisions / changes

  • 2023 Vaisakhi recognition (ceremonial):

    • Recites that Sikhism was founded in Punjab over five centuries ago, is the world’s fifth-largest religion (~30 million adherents), and includes approximately 700,000 in the United States.
    • Acknowledges Sikh families’ contributions to U.S. economic life and Washington State’s welcoming environment for diverse faiths and cultures.
    • Notes Vaisakhi’s timing (April), seasonal/ New Year significance, and its religious importance marking the creation of the Khalsa.
    • Concludes by wishing the Sikh American community “a very joyous Vaisakhi Celebration.”
    • No legal or fiscal effect — symbolic recognition only.

  • 2025 Rule 10 amendment (internal Senate procedure):

    • Reaffirms that notice requirements of Senate Rule 35 were satisfied.
    • Amends Rule 10 to list who the sergeant at arms may admit to the Senate floor, wings, and adjacent areas during specified times. The list includes: the governor and designees, members of the House, state elected officials, legislative officers and authorized employees, honored guests presented to the Senate, former senators who are not registered lobbyists, representatives of the press (with specified press-table access limits), and persons specifically requested by a senator or by senate staff on a senator’s behalf.
    • Significant change: clarifies and expands the mechanism for admitting persons (including press) when requested by a senator or by senate staff on behalf of a senator and removes the prior requirement that such persons be accompanied by a senator; requires they remain in the wings/adjacent areas of the caucus of the requesting senator.
    • This is an internal chamber rule change — affects Senate operations and access control, not public law.

Who is affected

  • 2023 resolution: Primarily symbolic; intended audience is the Sikh American community in Washington and the public. No legal obligations or changes.
  • 2025 rule amendment: Affects Senate operations — sergeant at arms, senators, senate staff, visiting guests, press, former senators, and state officials. May alter practical access procedures during Senate sessions.

Procedural/timeline aspects

  • Both are resolutions adopted by the Washington State Senate and certified by the Secretary of the Senate (Sarah Bannister).
  • Ceremonial recognitions do not create statutory obligations. The Rule 10 amendment takes effect for the period described (the Senate session times specified) and governs internal admission procedures going forward as adopted by the Senate.

Overall, SR 8638 has been used for two distinct, adopted resolutions: one ceremonial recognition of the Sikh community and Vaisakhi (2023), and one internal amendment to Senate access rules (2025).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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