Washington Legislature opens the 2020 session

With the swearing in of Rep. Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, as the new Washington Speaker of the House, the state legislature opened the 2020 session with a long list of items on the agenda Monday, Jan. 13, 2020. A number of interest groups, including farmers, native tribes and tax protesters also showed up to express their opinions Monday. All photos by Ted S. Warren/Associated Press

Section:Gallery

Mon., Jan. 13, 2020

House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, center, is applauded as she steps up to speak after being sworn, Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, on the first day of the 2020 session of the Washington Legislature at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash.

Ted S. Warren Ap
Members of the Washington state House, wear white in support of women's suffrage as they pose for a group photo, Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, on the first day of the 2020 session of the Washington legislature at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash.

Ted S. Warren Ap
Newly elected House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, upper left, is greeted by fellow House representatives after posing for a group photo while wearing white in support of women's suffrage, Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, during the first day of the 2020 session of the Washington legislature at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash.

Ted S. Warren Ap
Newly elected House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, speaks after she was sworn in Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, during the first day of the 2020 session of the Washington legislature at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash.

Ted S. Warren Ap
House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, second from right, is sworn in by former Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Fairhurst, second from left, Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, on the first day of the 2020 session of the Washington legislature at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash.

Ted S. Warren Ap
House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, center, is sworn in by former Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Fairhurst, center left, Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, on the first day of the 2020 session of the Washington legislature at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash.

Ted S. Warren Ap
Member of the Washington House convene Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, on the first day of the 2020 session of the Washington legislature at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash.

Ted S. Warren Ap
Rep. Matt Shea, R-Spokane Valley, left, stands at his desk on the House floor during the Pledge of Allegiance on Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, the first day of the 2020 session of the Washington Legislature in Olympia. Shea returned to the Capitol on Monday amid calls for his resignation in the wake of a December report detailing his involvement in anti-government activities.

Ted S. Warren Ap
Members of a Washington State Patrol honor guard walk on the House floor after bringing in the U.S. and Washington state flags, Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, at the start of the first day of the 2020 session of the Washington legislature at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash.

Ted S. Warren Ap
Initiative activist Tim Eyman, right, who is also running as an independent for Washington Governor, laughs as he waves a banner, Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, as he attends a rally on the first day of the 2020 session of the Washington legislature, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash.

Ted S. Warren Ap
Ed Yasukawa, of Seattle, holds a sign that reads, “We Stand With Matt Shea,” during a rally on Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, the first day of the 2020 session of the Washington Legislature in Olympia. The embattled Rep. Matt Shea, R-Spokane Valley, returned to the Capitol on Monday amid calls for his resignation in the wake of a December report detailing his involvement in anti-government activities.

Ted S. Warren Ap
Dan Cockerham, center, of Puyallup, Wash., holds a sign that reads "Hey Olympia, what part of $30 car tabs don't you understand?" Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, as he attends a rally on the first day of the 2020 session of the Washington legislature, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. In November, voters approved Initiative 976, which lowered annual vehicle registration tabs to $30 and largely revoked the authority of state and local governments to add taxes and fees without voter approval, but the measure is on hold because of a legal challenge.

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Supporters of Rep. Matt Shea, R-Spokane Valley, attend a rally on Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, the first day of the 2020 session of the Washington Legislature in Olympia. The embattled lawmaker returned to the Capitol on Monday amid calls for his resignation in the wake of a December report detailing his involvement in anti-government activities.

Ted S. Warren Ap
New House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, left, looks on as Speaker Pro Tem John Lovick, D-Mill Creek, gives her some pointers on banging the gavel as they pose for photos, Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, on the first day of the 2020 session of the Washington legislature at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash.

Ted S. Warren Ap
Climate activists and others supporting the Indigenous group "Protectors of the Salish Sea" march with signs and drums outside the Capitol at Olympia, Wash., Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, in Olympia, Wash., on the first day of the 2020 session of the Washington legislature. The group was at the Capitol to call attention to environmental issues including their demand that Gov. Jay Inslee declare a climate emergency and halt fossil fuel expansion projects in the state.

Ted S. Warren Ap
Climate activists and others supporting the Indigenous group "Protectors of the Salish Sea" march with signs and a large image of a salmon outside the Capitol at Olympia, Wash., Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, in Olympia, Wash., on the first day of the 2020 session of the Washington legislature. The group was at the Capitol to call attention to environmental issues including their demand that Gov. Jay Inslee declare a climate emergency and halt fossil fuel expansion projects in the state.

Ted S. Warren Ap
Thor Howard, 4, rides a toy tractor past larger machines parked Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash., as his family took part in a day to raise awareness of issues facing farmers in Washington state on the first day of the 2020 session of the Washington legislature. Thor's mother Sarah said he is in the fifth generation of farmers who run Schactler Ranch and the Eatonville Nursery in Eatonville, Wash.

Ted S. Warren Ap
Farmers and other supporters hold signs Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash., during a day to raise awareness of issues facing farmers in Washington state on the first day of the 2020 session of the Washington legislature.

Ted S. Warren Ap