SB 6058 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Adding discretion to wage enforcement actions.

SB 6058 modifies Washington's wage enforcement process by giving the Department of Labor & Industries more discretion in handling wage claims. It establishes a three-year limit on enforceable wage claims (counting from when a complaint is filed) and creates a $1,000 minimum civil penalty (up to $20,000) for willful violations, calculated as 10% of unpaid wages. Employers can avoid penalties by paying all owed wages plus interest within 10 business days of receiving a notice. This directly affects employers who owe wages, employees seeking unpaid pay, and the department's enforcement procedures. The bill updates existing laws without creating new wage rights.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Jan 9, 2026 Signed Mar 24, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Bill → Passed Legislature · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill adds a formal certification of enrollment to the text and modifies the enforcement timeline for wage complaints. Specifically, it clarifies that the department must establish a written process for prioritizing complaints based on factors like harm and retaliation severity. It also tightens the deadline for resolving complaints, requiring a decision within 60 days of acceptance rather than issuance, and clarifies that the statute of limitations begins when the employee files the complaint.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on wage enforcement, but the procedural requirements for handling complaints have been refined to ensure transparency and faster resolution.

TECHNICAL

Added a formal Certification of Enrollment page indicating the bill has passed both the Senate and House.

REQUIREMENT

Clarified that the department must establish a written process for prioritizing wage complaints based on specific factors including harm and retaliation probability.

TIMELINE

Changed the deadline for departmental decisions from 60 days after issuing a citation to 60 days after accepting a complaint.

Clarified that the three-year statute of limitations for investigating violations starts from the date the employee files the complaint.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 10, 2026 · House Mar 4, 2026

How they voted

49–1

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 51

Feb 10, 2026

D Democratic31

30 Yea 1 Nay

96% Yea

R Republican20

19 Yea 1

95% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 24, 2026

Signed into law

Governor signed.

executive

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Mar 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed final passage; yeas, 46; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 2.

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate concurred in House amendments.

upper

Mar 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.

lower

Mar 4, 2026

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (98-0-2)

house

Feb 25, 2026

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards at 10:30 AM.

lower

Feb 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

LC - Majority; do pass.

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Jan 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

1 primary · 5 co-sponsors