How to Write a Resolution
As a WSMA member, you can help guide the direction of the association and
raise awareness of issues of importance to the practice of medicine in
Washington by authoring a resolution—a proposal asking the WSMA to take a
position or act on an issue.Resolutions, which are key policy drivers for the association, are
considered for adoption at the
Annual Meeting of the WSMA House of Delegates
each fall.
First steps
Check for existing policy
If you have an idea for a
policy that you'd like the House of Delegates to adopt, take a moment to consult the
WSMA Policy Compendium
to make sure the subject isn't already addressed in current WSMA policy.
Alternately, you may seek to modify existing WSMA policy. If you'd like to
advance a change in the governance and regulation of the WSMA, download
and review the
WSMA Bylaws
for reference.
Check for health equity impact
Policies may disparately impact communities, particularly various
disadvantaged or marginalized communities. Before submitting your policy
proposal, use
this equity evaluation tool
to consistently assess the DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging) impacts
of potential new WSMA policy. The
WSMA DEIB Committee will be using the tool as it evaluates resolutions before the
House and will add a health equity note as appropriate.
Discuss with other WSMA members
For help developing
your proposal, join our secure, private online forum,
WSMA Virtual Reference Committees and Policy, where you can post a topic for discussion with other members. Tapping
the expertise of your colleagues can help you hone your proposal and
increase its chances for adoption. The WSMA Virtual Reference Committees and Policy forum is password-protected and
available year-round.
Requirements for submitting your resolution
Once you've decided on a proposal, you must:
-
Organize your proposal into the required resolution format. For details
on how to format your proposal using the five basic elements of a
resolution, review our
detailed instructions.
-
Identify two sponsors for your resolution. Resolutions must be sponsored
by at least two WSMA delegates, and must be submitted in writing by a
delegate, alternate delegate, or member of the board of trustees. If you
are interested in authoring a resolution but are not a delegate or board
member, the WSMA will work with you to develop your resolution idea and
find a sponsor. Contact us at
hod@wsma.org or 206.441.9762 for
assistance.
-
Submit your resolution to the WSMA for review. Starting this year, WSMA delegates are required to submit resolutions through a new online submission form, which will modernize and streamline resolution intake. Use the WSMA Resolution Submittal Form to submit a resolution for the 2026 House of Delegates meeting. Read more about these changes here. Upon receipt, WSMA staff will review
the resolution for any legal or legislative concerns and will work with
you to establish a fiscal note (the cost, if any, to implement the
resolution if adopted). Your resolution may be submitted at any time
during the year; however, if you'd like your resolution to be considered
at the yearly meeting of the WSMA House of Delegates, be sure to meet
the deadlines for resolution submission. For deadlines, check the
meeting webpage
or contact us at hod@wsma.org or
206.441.9762.
Submission complete—what's next?
Once your resolution has been reviewed by WSMA staff, it will be posted
online in our
virtual reference committees
to give other WSMA members a chance to review and discuss the merits of
your proposal prior to the WSMA Annual Meeting. During the meeting,
in-person reference committees allow members an additional opportunity to
offer input on proposed policies.
Reference committee members will consider all testimony, online and in
person, as they prepare their reports containing recommendations for the
House of Delegates on how to act on resolutions. These reports are
distributed during the final House of Delegates session at the WSMA Annual
Meeting prior to voting.
The WSMA Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting of the WSMA House of Delegates brings together the
voting members of the WSMA House of Delegates to debate
and determine policy for the association, elect officers, and network with
colleagues. Free for WSMA members, the meeting is not only your chance to
help set the agenda of your state medical association, but it is also a
wonderful opportunity to spend time with your colleagues and peers from
throughout the state.
If you have never attended a WSMA annual meeting,
learn more about the how, when, where, and why of our premier
policymaking event.
Important meeting deadlines
Early 2026
WSMA's new online resolution submission form will go live. Once available, delegates will submit resolutions through the WSMA website. Resolutions that do not adhere to WSMA's resolution template will not be accepted by the online tool. Only resolution submissions that complete all required fields will be accepted.
Per WSMA bylaws, "All proposed resolutions must be sponsored by two members of the House of Delegates, and all resolutions and memorials must be sponsored and submitted in writing by a delegate, alternate delegate or officer." If a resolution is submitted by anyone other than a delegate or alternate delegate of an organization represented in the HOD, or an officer, it will not be accepted.
It is never too early to submit a resolution! Please submit resolutions as soon as possible to allow time for review and approval by WSMA staff prior to the Aug. 27 deadline.
Summer 2026
Virtual reference committees will open to facilitate debate, discussion, and suggested amendments.
Aug. 27
Per the WSMA Bylaws, final deadline for receipt of on-time resolutions. Use the online resolution submission form. The WSMA will send a confirmation email upon receipt of the submission.
Resolutions must be submitted and approved by WSMA prior to the Aug. 27 on-time submission deadline to be considered on time.
No resolution edits/corrections/additions to previously accepted resolutions will be permitted after the on-time submission deadline.
All resolution submissions approved for acceptance by the on-time deadline will be posted to the virtual reference committee for review and comment.
Resolutions received after the deadline will not be posted in the virtual reference committees but will be distributed on Saturday morning of the House of Delegates. They will require consent of two-thirds of the House at opening session to be considered.
Sept. 4
The delegate handbook will be available for download on the WSMA website.
Sept. 11
Virtual reference committees will close at noon. Resolution authors will be given an additional 24 hours until noon on Sept. 12 to address issues raised.
Sept. 18
Preliminary reference committee reports posted to the WSMA website, virtual reference committees, and distributed via email.
Sept. 26-27
2026 WSMA Annual Meeting at the Historic Davenport in Spokane.
Questions? Contact us at HOD@wsma.org.