SB 5694 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Establishing a statewide boiler operator certification.

Senate Bill 5694 establishes a statewide certification program for boiler operators in Washington state. This program aims to unify existing certification and training standards across the state to ensure operators possess necessary skills for safe boiler operation, maintenance, and repair. The Board of Boiler Rules is tasked with developing rules for this certification, which are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2028. The Department of Labor & Industries will be responsible for enforcing these new certification requirements, while recognizing certifications from approved existing programs.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Jan 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Last action Jan 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute Bill → Engrossed Substitute Bill · 3 edits · Mar 10, 2025

MINOR

The bill was formally amended to its final version, and a new section was added to exempt specific facilities from certain requirements. This change clarifies that the new rules do not apply to workers at specific refineries or to steam boilers used at biomass energy plants.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include exemptions for two new categories: employees of specific refineries and steam boilers at biomass energy facilities.

SCOPE

Added a new section that explicitly exempts individuals working at refineries classified under specific North American industry codes from the bill's requirements.

Added an exemption for steam boilers and unfired pressure vessels that are part of electric generating facilities producing qualified biomass energy.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill title from 'Substitute Senate Bill' to 'Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill' and updated the bill number.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 10, 2025

How they voted

51–0

Passed

Total votes 51

Mar 10, 2025

D Democratic31

31 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican20

20 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 12, 2026

Committee

Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. On motion, referred to Labor & Commerce.

upper

Jan 12, 2026

Introduced

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

upper

Apr 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 9:00 AM.

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Committee

Referred to Appropriations.

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Mar 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

WM - Majority; do pass 1st substitute bill proposed by Labor & Commerce.

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.

upper

Feb 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.

upper

Feb 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to Ways & Means.

upper

Feb 21, 2025

Committee

And refer to Ways & Means.

upper

Feb 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 8:00 AM.

upper

Feb 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors