Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 2107: Concerning notice requirements of identified hazards at construction worksites.

HB 2107 requires Washington construction site inspectors to provide employers or owners with written notice within 10 working days when they identify an immediate safety hazard during inspections that could cause worker injury. This applies specifically to residential building and general construction projects under the North American Industry Classification System. The law, effective until June 30, 2026, mandates this notice but does not change inspectors' existing authority or the employer's obligation to correct hazards. It also requires the Department of Labor to report by December 1, 2026, on instances where timely notice wasn't given and the reasons for non-compliance.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates written hazard notices to prevent worker injury, strengthening construction site safety protocols per bill's explicit safety focus.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 2355: Establishing labor protections for domestic workers.

HB 2355 establishes minimum wage, overtime, and written contract requirements for domestic workers in Washington State, directly affecting nannies, home care aides, housekeepers, and similar workers employed in private residences. The bill requires employers to pay at least the state minimum wage (including overtime after 40 hours), provide a written agreement detailing pay, hours, benefits, and termination notice (2 weeks for non-live-in workers, 4 weeks for live-in), and prohibits wage theft like withholding pay. It excludes family members, casual labor (e.g., irregular babysitting), and home care provided through state-funded agencies. The law aims to bring domestic workers under standard labor protections while clarifying exemptions for certain informal or family-based arrangements.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEstablishes minimum wage, overtime, written contracts, and prohibits wage theft for domestic workers, directly protecting their rights and compensation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 5217: Expanding pregnancy-related accommodations.

Senate Bill 5217 expands pregnancy-related accommodations for employees in Washington state, now applying to nearly all employers. It defines "pregnancy" to include related health conditions and the need to express breast milk, requiring employers to provide reasonable accommodations like flexible breaks, modified schedules, and assistance with manual labor. The bill prohibits employers from taking adverse action against employees requesting these accommodations and mandates paid break time for expressing breast milk for up to two years after childbirth. Additionally, it allows individuals with an infant under 12 months old to be excused from or delay jury service.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands pregnancy accommodations, requires reasonable modifications, prohibits retaliation - directly strengthens worker protections under Labor & Employment.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 5408: Allowing for corrections to wage and salary disclosures.

Senate Bill 5408 amends existing law to allow for corrections to wage and salary disclosures by employers with 15 or more employees. The bill requires these employers to include wage scales, salary ranges, or fixed amounts, along with a general description of benefits, in job postings and provide this information for internal transfers or promotions upon request. A key provision allows employers, until July 27, 2027, to correct a non-compliant posting within five business days of receiving written notice to avoid penalties. Job applicants or employees may pursue administrative remedies or a private civil action for uncorrected violations, seeking statutory damages and other relief.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates wage transparency in job postings for 15+ employee employers, advancing worker rights by enabling informed salary negotiations and reducing pay secrecy.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 5431: Modifying tax and revenue laws in a manner that is not estimated to affect state or local tax collections.

Substitute Senate Bill 5431 modifies certain tax and revenue laws without impacting state or local tax collections. It updates legislative intent regarding the extension of preferential tax rates for manufacturers and wholesalers in the solar silicon industry, tying future extensions to employment and wage growth criteria. Additionally, the bill amends rules for sellers concerning their personal liability for uncollected sales tax. It clarifies conditions for sellers to be relieved from this liability, including removing the requirement for them to renew blanket exemption certificates for recurring customers.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill provides preferential tax rates for solar silicon manufacturers, tying extensions to employment/wage growth, directly supporting renewable energy production infrastructure.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly ties tax incentives to employment and wage growth criteria, directly advancing labor and employment outcomes through policy design.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 5101: Expanding access to leave and safety accommodations to include workers who are victims of hate crimes or bias incidents.

SB 5101 expands existing Washington State protections for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking to also include employees who are victims of hate crimes or bias incidents, or whose family members are victims. The bill allows these employees to take reasonable leave from work, which can be intermittent or on a reduced schedule, with or without pay. This leave can be used for reasons such as seeking legal assistance, medical treatment, counseling, or engaging in safety planning related to the hate crime. Employers are required to provide reasonable safety accommodations and may ask for verification of the incident and the need for leave.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides leave for medical treatment and counseling, directly enabling access to healthcare services for victims of hate crimes.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands workplace leave protections to include hate crime victims, strengthening worker safety rights and access to accommodations under Labor & Employment policies.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 5503: Concerning public employee collective bargaining processes.

Senate Bill 5503 revises collective bargaining processes for public employees in Washington State. It modifies how the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) handles petitions to form new bargaining units and allows for the consolidation of existing units represented by the same employee organization. The bill also enhances PERC's procedural authority in setting hearing dates and enforcing subpoenas. Additionally, it establishes specific interest arbitration rights and an impasse resolution process for certain employees of the Department of Corrections.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill enhances collective bargaining by allowing unit consolidation, strengthening PERC authority, and establishing interest arbitration rights, directly supporting labor organizing processes.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · Senate May 19, 2025

SB 5041: Concerning unemployment insurance benefits for striking or lockout workers.

Senate Bill 5041 revises the eligibility rules for unemployment insurance benefits in Washington state for workers involved in labor disputes. The bill removes the disqualification for benefits for individuals whose unemployment is caused by an employer lockout. For workers unemployed due to a strike, the disqualification period now ends on the second Sunday after the strike begins, or when the strike terminates, whichever occurs first. However, benefits received due to a strike are capped at six calendar weeks, and the employer is notified of available mediation services.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill removes disqualification for lockout workers and shortens strike disqualification period, expanding unemployment benefits access for workers in labor disputes, protecting their rights during strikes.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · Senate May 17, 2025

SB 5463: Concerning the duties of industrial insurance self-insured employers and third-party administrators.

Senate Bill 5463 expands and clarifies the duties of all self-insured employers and their third-party administrators concerning industrial insurance claims in Washington state. It establishes a clear duty of good faith and fair dealing towards workers, prohibiting actions like coercing workers to accept less than due compensation. The bill empowers the Department of Labor & Industries to investigate violations, impose penalties payable to workers, and mandate corrective actions for repeated failures to uphold this duty. Employers who repeatedly violate these good faith requirements or fail to comply with corrective actions may ultimately have their self-insurer certification withdrawn.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates good faith in claims, prohibits coercion for underpayment, and empowers enforcement to protect worker compensation rights.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · House May 17, 2025

HB 1264: Concerning the salaries of ferry system collective bargaining units.

HB 1264 updates the process for determining salaries and benefits for Washington state ferry system employees represented by collective bargaining units. The bill requires the Office of Financial Management to contract with a nationally recognized firm to conduct comprehensive salary and fringe benefit surveys for maritime employees. These surveys will compare ferry employee compensation with directly comparable positions in both public and private sectors to ensure competitive pay. Information identifying specific private employers in these surveys will not be subject to public disclosure.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates competitive pay surveys for ferry workers in collective bargaining units to ensure compensation aligns with public/private sectors, directly supporting fair wages and collective bargaining.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment