Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · Senate Apr 29, 2025

SB 5494: Protecting Washington communities from lead-based paint.

SB 5494 strengthens Washington's program to protect communities from lead-based paint hazards, particularly children. It designates the Department of Commerce to administer and enforce a state program for training, certifying, and accrediting individuals and firms involved in lead-based paint activities. This includes establishing a renovation, repair, and painting program that requires certified professionals to follow specific work standards for renovations in pre-1978 homes and child-occupied facilities. The bill aims to ensure a qualified workforce performs lead-based paint abatement and renovation activities safely, reducing public exposure to lead.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates certified professionals to follow safety work standards for lead paint renovations, improving workplace safety for workers handling hazardous materials.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 1644: Concerning the safety and health of working minors.

HB 1644, "Concerning the safety and health of working minors," aims to strengthen protections for young workers in Washington state. The bill amends the criteria for "responsible bidders" on public works contracts, requiring that contractors not have a revoked minor work permit to be eligible for these projects. It also modifies the process for issuing citations to employers who violate requirements related to minor work permits. These provisions are intended to promote adherence to safety and health standards for minors in the workplace.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill strengthens minor worker safety by requiring valid permits for public contracts and modifying enforcement, directly protecting young workers' health and safety per summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted other

signed · Washington · House Apr 25, 2025

HB 1068: Removing the exclusion from interest arbitration of Washington management service employees at the department of corrections.

House Bill 1068 removes the exclusion of Washington management service employees at the Department of Corrections from interest arbitration. This change grants these employees access to an alternative process for resolving disputes over their collective bargaining agreements. If negotiations and mediation fail to reach an agreement, an independent arbitrator will be appointed to make a binding decision on the terms of their employment. The arbitrator's decision will consider factors such as the department's financial ability, comparable wages, and the ability to retain employees.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves exclusion from interest arbitration for correctional management employees, expanding collective bargaining rights through binding arbitration when negotiations fail.90% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted other

signed · Washington · House Apr 25, 2025

HB 1605: Concerning the establishment of a state patrol longevity bonus.

House Bill 1605 establishes a longevity bonus program for eligible commissioned employees of the Washington State Patrol. It provides an annual $15,000 bonus, paid quarterly, for those with 26 or more years of service, beginning July 1, 2024. Employees who met this service requirement before July 1, 2024, also qualify for a one-time retention incentive. These bonuses are intended for retaining senior personnel, do not count towards pension calculations, and are subject to collective bargaining agreements, with the program expiring on June 30, 2029.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides $15,000 annual bonus for senior state patrol employees to retain experienced staff, enhancing compensation and job security per bill language.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted other

signed · Washington · House Apr 25, 2025

HB 1875: Allowing the use of paid sick leave to prepare for or participate in certain immigration proceedings.

Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1875 expands the reasons for which employees in Washington state can use their accrued paid sick leave. It allows employees to use this leave to prepare for or participate in judicial or administrative immigration proceedings for themselves or a family member. For absences exceeding three days for this purpose, employees can provide verification through documentation from an immigration advocate, attorney, or clergy, or a written statement from the employee, without disclosing sensitive immigration status details. The bill ensures that employees can attend these proceedings without losing pay.

Topics ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationExpands paid sick leave for immigration proceedings, enabling access to legal services without wage loss. Directly supports immigrant rights and access to proceedings.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands paid sick leave usage for immigration proceedings, directly strengthening worker benefits and rights under employment standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted other

signed · Washington · House Apr 25, 2025

HB 1788: Concerning workers' compensation benefits.

This bill modifies Washington's workers' compensation benefits, primarily affecting injured workers and their families. For claims with an injury date on or after July 1, 2026, it updates how permanent total disability benefits are calculated. These changes include adding the employer's health care contributions to benefits and adjusting the percentage of a worker's wages received based on marital status and the number of children. Additionally, the bill ensures that child-related compensation payments are made directly to the person with legal custody of a child, rather than to an injured worker or surviving spouse who does not have custody. The act takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAdds employer health care contributions to benefits and adjusts wage percentages based on family status, expanding support for injured workers and families.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted other

signed · Washington · House Apr 24, 2025

HB 1270: Concerning automatic deferred compensation enrollment for county, municipal, and other political subdivision employees.

HB 1270 allows counties, municipalities, and other political subdivisions to automatically enroll their new employees into deferred compensation plans. This applies to eligible new employees, whether they are joining the state's deferred compensation plan or a local government's own plan. Employees who are automatically enrolled will have the option to opt out if they choose. This bill provides local governments with the mechanism to streamline enrollment in retirement savings programs for their workforce.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAutomatically enrolls employees in retirement savings with opt-out, expanding retirement benefits without mandating participation.90% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted other

signed · Washington · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 1141: Concerning collective bargaining for agricultural cannabis workers.

HB 1141 grants agricultural workers involved in cultivating, growing, harvesting, or producing cannabis the right to collective bargaining. It places these workers and their employers under the jurisdiction of the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC). PERC will oversee the process for employees to organize, elect bargaining representatives, and engage in good faith negotiations with employers on wages, hours, and working conditions. The bill also defines and prohibits unfair labor practices by employers related to these organizing rights.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentGrants cannabis agricultural workers collective bargaining rights under PERC, directly advancing worker organizing and negotiation rights per bill summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted other

signed · Washington · Senate Apr 22, 2025

SB 5501: Concerning employer requirements for driving.

Substitute Senate Bill 5501 prohibits employers from requiring a valid driver's license as a condition of employment or in job postings, unless driving is an essential job function or related to a legitimate business purpose. This law directly affects employers and job applicants in Washington state. The bill establishes a process for the director to investigate complaints, allowing for orders of actual and statutory damages (at least $5,000), interest, and investigation costs to the complainant. Employers may also face civil penalties of up to $500 for a first violation and up to $1,000 or 10% of damages for repeat offenses.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits unnecessary driver's license requirements in hiring, protecting applicants from discriminatory barriers and advancing workers' rights under Labor & Employment standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · Senate Apr 22, 2025

SB 5459: Concerning call center retention.

Senate Bill 5459, also known as the Washington Call Center Jobs Act, requires call center employers with 50 or more workers to provide 120 days' notice to the state before relocating a significant portion (25% or more) of their operations from Washington to a foreign country. Employers who violate this notice requirement may face civil penalties. Furthermore, employers who relocate call center operations to a foreign country become ineligible for state grants or loans for five years. The bill also mandates that state agencies ensure new contracts for call center services are performed entirely within the United States.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires 120-day notice before call center relocations, protecting workers from sudden job loss and imposing penalties for violations, directly advancing worker retention rights.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment