HB 1155 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Prohibiting noncompetition agreements and clarifying nonsolicitation agreements.

HB 1155 prohibits all noncompetition agreements that restrict employees or independent contractors from working for competitors or starting their own businesses in Washington State, making such agreements void and unenforceable. It directly affects workers who were subject to these agreements, including those in industries like entertainment, and requires employers to notify affected workers by October 2026 that their noncompetition clauses are invalid. The bill clarifies that nonsolicitation agreements (prohibiting poaching customers or coworkers) remain legal but must be narrowly defined, while excluding confidentiality, trade secret, and franchise agreements from the prohibition. Violations by employers carry penalties of $5,000 per violation plus legal fees, ensuring workers can pursue enforcement without restrictive contracts.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Signed Mar 23, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Substitute Bill → Substitute Passed Legislature · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was updated to reflect its passage by both the House and Senate in the 2026 Regular Session. Substantive changes include expanding the definition of 'noncompetition covenants' to cover agreements that force employees to repay educational expenses, clarifying that 'nonsolicitation agreements' cannot prohibit business with prospective customers, and removing a specific requirement for employers to notify independent contractors about voided noncompetes.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include educational expense repayment agreements as noncompetes and to clarify protections for prospective customers in non-solicitation clauses.

DEFINITION

Added a new exemption for written agreements to repay out-of-pocket educational expenses, provided they expire within 18 months, limit repayment pro-rata, and release employees if they quit for 'good cause'.

Modified the definition of 'nonsolicitation agreement' to explicitly include 'prospective' customers and require that the employee must have established a direct relationship with the customer to be protected.

REQUIREMENT

Removed a specific requirement for employers to provide written notice to independent contractors regarding voided noncompetition covenants.

TIMELINE

Updated the bill's session dates and certification details to reflect the 2026 Regular Session and the dates of passage by the House and Senate.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 5, 2026 · House Feb 10, 2026

How they voted

32–19

Passed

Total votes 51

Mar 5, 2026

D Democratic31

31 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican20

1 Yea 19 Nay

95% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 23, 2026

Signed into law

Governor signed.

executive

Mar 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed final passage; yeas, 62; nays, 33; absent, 0; excused, 3.

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

House concurred in Senate amendments.

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee amendment(s) adopted as amended.

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (32-19)

senate

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

LC - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 10:45 AM.

upper

Feb 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 10:30 AM.

upper

Feb 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

lower

Jan 12, 2026

Introduced

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Feb 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

lower

Feb 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards at 10:30 AM.

lower

Jan 31, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards at 10:30 AM.

lower

Jan 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards at 8:00 AM.

lower

1 primary · 17 co-sponsors