Permitting individuals retired from the public employees' retirement system, the teachers' retirement system, and the school employees' retirement system additional opportunities to work for up to 1,040 hours per year while in receipt of pension benefits.
SB 5738 extends a temporary provision allowing certain retired public employees in Washington state to work more hours while continuing to receive their pension benefits. The bill permits individuals retired from the public employees', teachers', school employees', and public safety employees' retirement systems to work up to 1,040 hours per year in specific public service roles, such as nonadministrative positions in school districts. This provision, which would have expired on July 1, 2025, is extended until January 1, 2030. This allows these retirees to re-enter the workforce for additional hours without their pension payments being suspended.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 12, 2026
Last action Jan 12, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Bill
→
Substitute Bill
·
4 edits
MODERATE
This bill was amended to expand the group of retirees eligible to work while receiving pension benefits to include public safety employees (firefighters and law enforcement). Additionally, the sunset date for the special 1,040-hour work limit for school employees was extended from 2029 to 2030. A new section was added to address public safety retirement plans, and the bill's sponsor list was updated to reflect committee referral.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to include the public safety employees' retirement system, whereas the original version only covered public employees, teachers, and school employees.
SCOPE
Added public safety employees (firefighters and law enforcement) to the list of retirees eligible to work up to 1,040 hours per year while receiving pension benefits.
Added a new section (Sec. 7) specifically amending RCW 41.37.050 to include public safety employees in the general retirement system provisions.
TIMELINE
Extended the expiration date for the special 1,040-hour work limit for school employees from July 1, 2029, to January 1, 2030.
TECHNICAL
Updated the bill title to 'Substitute Senate Bill' and changed the sponsor attribution to indicate the bill was referred to the Ways & Means Committee.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 12, 2025
How they voted
43–7
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 51
Mar 12, 2025
D
Democratic31
96% Yea
R
Republican20
65% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
20
Key actions
8
Committee
8
Jan 12, 2026
Introduced
By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
upper
Apr 8, 2025
Committee
Referred to Rules 2 Review.
lower
Apr 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
APP - Majority; do pass.
lower
Apr 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 9:00 AM.
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 4:00 PM.
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (43-7-1)
senate
Feb 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Minority; without recommendation.
upper
Feb 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Minority; do not pass.
upper
Feb 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.
upper
Feb 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 4:00 PM.
upper
1 primary · 8 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about SB 5738
Scope: WA
Hi! I can help you understand SB 5738. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline