HB 2312 authorizes Washington state employees to take unpaid "shared leave" when they or a covered family member face immigration enforcement actions like detention, court appearances, or deportation proceedings. It defines "family member" broadly to include household members relying on the employee for care, and requires employers to protect immigration status details when verifying leave. Employees can provide documentation from advocates/attorneys or a written statement without revealing sensitive information, and employers must redact any immigration data in verification. This leave is only available after employees exhaust other leave options, and it applies to state employees covered under existing shared leave policies.
HB 2641 prohibits Washington state law enforcement agencies (both general and limited authority) from hiring individuals who became sworn officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on or after January 20, 2025. The law applies only to future hires, not current employees, and takes effect October 1, 2026. It directly affects Washington agencies seeking new sworn officers by restricting recruitment from a specific federal agency. The bill does not alter existing employment contracts or impact other federal law enforcement roles.
SB 5852 requires Washington employers to notify workers and their representatives within 72 hours if a federal agency conducts an inspection of employment verification forms (I-9) or worker records. It mandates posting multilingual notices in workplaces and sending written notices to all current and recent workers (within the last three years), including details about the federal agency and inspection. The law aims to ensure immigrant workers are informed during federal immigration enforcement actions, with notices required in the five most commonly used non-English languages in the state. Employers must also provide affected workers with copies of federal inspection results. This applies to all Washington employers, including state agencies and businesses.
SB 5906 is a proposed bill that would protect students and families in Washington state's early learning programs (like child care centers, preschools, and schools) from immigration enforcement activities. It prohibits providers from collecting immigration status information and requires officers to show a warrant before entering school or child care facilities for immigration enforcement. The bill also mandates that providers inform parents about their children's program eligibility regardless of immigration status and distribute "know your rights" materials annually. It directly affects licensed early learning providers and school districts, requiring them to follow these safety protocols while complying with federal law. The bill is currently in the legislative process but has not yet been enacted.
Senate Bill 5818 aims to clarify and restrict how state and local law enforcement agencies, including school resource officers, interact with federal immigration authorities regarding individuals in their custody. The bill prohibits these agencies from inquiring into an individual's immigration status unless directly connected to a criminal investigation. It also prevents them from providing information based on federal civil immigration "notification requests" or sharing nonpublic personal information in noncriminal matters. These restrictions apply unless otherwise required by state or federal law.
Substitute Senate Bill 5714 defines new types of unprofessional conduct for licensed bail bond agents and bail bond recovery agents in Washington state. The bill prohibits these agents from using their position to enforce civil immigration warrants. Additionally, it makes it unprofessional conduct for agents to share a defendant's immigration status outside of their bail bond agency's business. These provisions aim to regulate the specific activities and information handling practices of bail bond professionals.
SB 5022 updates Washington State law to require that law enforcement agencies and prosecutor offices consider applicants legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law for hiring, replacing outdated categories like "lawful permanent resident" or "DACA recipient" in statutes. The bill amends multiple laws (including those governing civil service hiring for police, corrections officers, and prosecutor deputies) to align with federal work authorization standards without altering existing federal requirements. It clarifies that agencies must comply with federal firearm regulations for officers and allows hiring rejections only if background investigations cannot be conducted due to insufficient resources (funding, staff, or materials), while preserving state antidiscrimination protections. This change directly affects all state and local law enforcement hiring processes and prosecutor office appointments in Washington.
SB 5002 prohibits Washington state and local governments from adopting "sanctuary policies" that block cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The bill requires law enforcement agencies to share immigration status information with federal authorities and to facilitate the transfer of individuals subject to immigration detainers. Specifically, it mandates that judges in criminal cases where a defendant is subject to an immigration detainer must order a reduction of up to 12 days in their state sentence to enable seamless transfer to federal custody. This law directly affects counties, municipalities, and correctional facilities by requiring compliance with federal immigration requests.
SB 5103 amends state law concerning the clemency and pardons board, primarily affecting individuals seeking sentence review or pardons. The bill requires the board to consider expedited review for petitions when there is an urgent need, such as a pending deportation order or proceeding. It also clarifies that an applicant's immigration status does not affect their eligibility for a pardon, commutation, or restoration of civil rights. This aims to streamline the review process for specific urgent cases before the board.
