Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 6302: Concerning misclassification in the finishing trades on public works projects.

SB 6302 prevents contractors on public works projects from misclassifying workers by limiting them to hiring no more than two independent contractors for the same type of finishing work (drywall, flooring, tiling, painting, or glazing) at once. If a contractor violates this limit, all workers performing that specific finishing trade become classified as employees under state law, entitling them to benefits and protections. The bill directly affects workers in these trades on public construction projects, ensuring they receive proper labor rights when contractors improperly use independent contractor arrangements. It amends Washington’s public works and labor laws to clarify worker classification standards for these specific trades.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPrevents contractor misclassification of workers on public projects, classifying violators' workers as employees entitled to benefits and protections.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 1570: Concerning collective bargaining for certain employees who are enrolled in academic programs at public institutions of higher education.

HB 1570 grants collective bargaining rights to student employees (those enrolled in academic or certificate programs) at Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, Western Washington University, and The Evergreen State College. It defines specific bargaining topics, including tuition remission and waivers, while excluding issues like academic calendars, tuition amounts, student admissions, and termination based on academic performance. Compensation agreements must align with legislative budget limits, though institutions may offer additional pay beyond these limits. The bill applies only to employees not already covered by other collective bargaining laws at these institutions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationGrants student employees bargaining rights for tuition remission/waivers at public universities, enhancing affordability and access to higher education.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentGrants collective bargaining rights to student employees, a core labor right, defining negotiable topics like tuition remission while excluding non-labor issues.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 5068: Concerning agencies, firefighters, prosecutors, and general or limited authority law enforcement, extending eligibility for employment to all United States citizens or persons legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law.

SB 5068 expands employment eligibility for various public service roles in Washington state. The bill allows individuals legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law to be considered for positions as firefighters, prosecutors, and general or limited authority law enforcement officers. This change amends existing state laws that previously limited eligibility to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, broadening the pool of potential applicants for these roles. The bill specifies that it must be interpreted consistent with federal work authorization requirements.

Topics ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationExpands public service job eligibility to legally authorized workers, removing citizenship barriers. Aligns with immigrant integration support.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands employment eligibility for public service roles to legally authorized workers, advancing access to employment opportunities under Labor & Employment standards.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 5292: Concerning paid family and medical leave rates.

This bill revises how the annual premium rates for Washington's Paid Family and Medical Leave program are determined, affecting both employers and employees who contribute to and benefit from the program. It changes the process for setting the total premium rate, moving from a specific formula to being based on an annual report from the office of actuarial services. This report must now recommend premium rates designed to maintain the program's solvency for the next four years while limiting rate fluctuations. Additionally, it requires the report to ensure the program closes each rate collection year with a specific three-month reserve by 2030, with the maximum premium rate remaining at 1.20 percent.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill ensures solvency of medical leave program, maintaining access to healthcare-related benefits and preventing rate increases that could limit coverage.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill ensures program solvency for paid family medical leave, maintaining worker benefits and protecting employment standards through stable funding mechanisms.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SB 6106: Modifying the securing timely notification and benefits for laid-off employees act. (REVISED FOR ENGROSSED: Concerning the laid-off employees act.)

SB 6106 updates Washington’s law on notifying laid-off employees by excluding Indian tribes from the definition of "employer," meaning tribal employers will no longer be subject to the law’s notice and benefit requirements. It also adds a new exemption protecting employee names and addresses from public disclosure under the state’s open records law. These changes amend specific sections of Washington law (RCW 49.45.010 and RCW 42.56.230) to clarify who must comply and strengthen privacy safeguards for affected workers. The bill directly impacts tribal employers (no longer covered) and all employees whose personal information is now shielded from public access in employment records.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentExcludes tribal employers from layoff notice/benefit requirements, reducing worker protections under the law.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyAdds exemption protecting employee names/addresses from public disclosure, strengthening data privacy under RCW 42.56.230, aligning with data privacy indicators.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 6014: Concerning pregnancy-related accommodations.

SB 6014 clarifies Washington's pregnancy accommodation law by limiting when employers can request written medical certification for pregnancy-related adjustments (e.g., modified duties or breaks), except for specific accommodations like lifting restrictions. It prohibits employers from disclosing employees' personal health information related to pregnancy and adds strict confidentiality rules for complaint records filed with the state, protecting names, addresses, and medical details. The bill also requires the state department to provide online education materials explaining pregnancy accommodation rights for employers and employees. These changes directly affect pregnant employees seeking workplace adjustments, employers subject to the law, and state agencies handling complaints.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects employee health privacy and ensures access to pregnancy accommodations without unnecessary medical disclosure, aligning with patient rights and healthcare access principles.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentClarifies pregnancy accommodations by limiting employer medical requests, prohibits health info disclosure, and enforces complaint confidentiality - directly strengthening worker privacy and rights in employment.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 6049: Protecting student and employee information from public disclosure.

Washington State's SB 6049 expands privacy protections for public employees and volunteers by adding new exemptions to the state's public records law. The bill shields sensitive personal information such as home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, Social Security numbers, and emergency contacts from public disclosure. It also creates specific protections for employees who are survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or harassment, requiring a sworn statement or proof of participation in an address confidentiality program to anonymize their work contact details. These changes directly affect all public agencies, schools, and government employers in Washington by limiting access to certain personnel records.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill shields sensitive employee personal information (including domestic violence survivors' details), directly enhancing privacy protections under labor rights framework.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExpands data privacy protections by exempting sensitive personal information (SSNs, addresses, etc.) from public disclosure, directly aligning with technology privacy policies.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

Track

passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5061: Requiring certain wages in public works contracts to be at least the prevailing wage in effect when the work is performed.

Senate Bill 5061 changes how wages are determined for laborers, workers, and mechanics on public works projects in Washington state. It requires that the hourly minimum wage paid on these contracts must be adjusted to the prevailing rate of wage in effect at the time the work is performed. This means wages will no longer be frozen at the rate from when project bids were submitted, but will update according to current prevailing wage adjustments published by the Department of Labor and Industries. The bill aims to ensure fair labor standards for workers throughout the duration of public construction projects.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires public works wages to update to current prevailing rates, preventing wage stagnation and protecting worker compensation under Labor & Employment standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

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passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5500: Modernizing reimbursement rates for the working connections child care program.

SB 5500 modernizes Washington's child care subsidy rates for the Working Connections program by requiring the state to use a "cost of quality" rate model that covers the full cost of high-quality care. This model includes living wages for staff, benefits, educational materials, professional development, and other operational costs, replacing the previous 85th percentile market rate as the baseline. The bill mandates that future reimbursement rates must reflect these actual costs while maintaining the current minimum rate, and requires triennial reviews of rates for infants, nonstandard hours, and special needs populations. This directly affects licensed child care providers receiving state subsidies and the working families relying on subsidized care.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequiring 'living wages for staff' and covering full operational costs directly advances worker compensation standards in child care employment.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

Track

passed both · Washington · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 2675: Concerning accounts.

HB 2675 repeals seven existing state accounts (including the Climate Resiliency Account and COVID-19 Unemployment Account) and creates a new "abandoned recreational vehicle disposal account" in the state treasury. This account funds reimbursements for registered tow truck operators and licensed dismantlers who remove abandoned recreational vehicles when owners cannot be located, covering up to 100% of reasonable costs per vehicle (capped at $10,000). Funds may also cover department administrative expenses (up to 15% of spending) and must be used solely for this purpose after appropriation. The bill directly affects tow operators, dismantlers, and state agencies managing vehicle removal programs, streamlining fund management by consolidating related accounts into a single dedicated fund.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRepeals Climate Resiliency Account (defunding climate resilience efforts); new account unrelated to environment. No environmental protections advanced.90% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRepeals COVID-19 Unemployment Account, defunding unemployment benefits which directly weakens labor/employment support.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

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