Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · House Mar 14, 2026

HB 2479: Concerning the recovery of unpaid wages.

HB 2479 streamlines the process for workers to recover unpaid wages in Washington State. It requires the Department of Labor to investigate wage complaints within 60 days (extendable with notice), limits claims to unpaid wages from the past three years, and mandates employers to pay owed wages plus 1% monthly interest. For willful violations, employers face fines of at least $1,500 or 10% of unpaid wages (adjusted for inflation starting 2030), with penalties deposited into a new "wage recovery account." The bill directly affects workers who haven’t received pay and employers who owe wages, while giving the department expanded authority to investigate multiple violations under a single complaint.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentStreamlines wage recovery process, mandates interest payments, and imposes fines for violations, directly strengthening workers' ability to recover unpaid wages.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · Senate Mar 14, 2026

SB 5874: Concerning employers' information reporting for purposes of unemployment compensation.

Washington State's SB 5874 modifies penalties for employers who fail to properly report unemployment compensation information. It establishes a $25 penalty for late filings, with warning letters for first-time incomplete reports, followed by escalating fines ($75, $150, $250) for repeated errors within five years. Employers may avoid penalties for minor mistakes like software errors causing missing job titles, but intentional misreporting of payroll could lead to fines up to 10 times the underpaid amount. The bill directly affects Washington employers required to submit quarterly unemployment tax reports.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEnsures accurate unemployment tax collection via penalties, securing state budget revenue from employer contributions without altering tax rates.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEnforces accurate employer reporting for unemployment benefits, ensuring workers receive full compensation and protecting their rights under employment standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SJM 8015: Requesting Congress to ensure that federal wildfire response entities have the capacity to protect communities and infrastructure, limit impacts to natural resources and watersheds, and protect wildland firefighter health and safety.

Washington State's Senate Joint Memorial 8015 requests federal agencies to ensure wildfire response capacity by urging the Department of the Interior and Agriculture to: (1) fully staff the consolidated Wildland Fire Service by April 1, 2026, (2) delay further reorganization until national fire activity drops to a low level, and (3) avoid reducing firefighting capacity during consolidation. The memorial addresses concerns about federal staff reductions (5,000 at USFS, 7,500 at Interior) and uncertain impacts on wildfire response teams ahead of the 2026 fire season. It specifically aims to protect communities, infrastructure, natural resources, and firefighter safety through these federal actions. As a non-binding memorial, it seeks to influence federal policy rather than enact new law.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly aims to protect natural resources and watersheds by ensuring wildfire response capacity and preventing staff reductions that could harm environmental protection efforts.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly requests to protect wildland firefighter health/safety and avoid staff reductions, directly supporting workplace safety and employment for this workforce.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 6323: Concerning medical insurance premium reimbursements for surviving spouses of line of duty deaths.

SB 6323 requires the Washington state retirement system to reimburse surviving spouses and dependent children for medical insurance premiums when a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or public safety employee dies in the line of duty. The bill adds specific reimbursement coverage for COBRA, Medicare Part A, and Medicare Part B premiums, starting from the date of death until the line-of-duty determination is made. To qualify, survivors must maintain enrollment in both Medicare Part A and Part B. This amendment to RCW 41.26.510 expands existing benefits for families of public safety personnel who die while performing official duties.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareReimburses medical insurance premiums for survivors of line-of-duty deaths, expanding coverage continuity and ensuring access to healthcare services.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands medical insurance benefits for survivors of line-of-duty deaths, strengthening worker family protections under employment standards for public safety employees.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5835: Concerning the threshold for payment of a lump sum retirement allowance in lieu of a monthly benefit.

SB 5835 raises the threshold for receiving a lump sum retirement payment (instead of monthly benefits) from $50 to $250 annually adjusted. It applies to Washington state public employees and beneficiaries whose calculated monthly retirement benefit would be below this new threshold. The bill requires the lump sum to be the greater of the actuarial equivalent of future monthly payments or the member's accumulated contributions plus interest. It also includes specific rules for converting from monthly to lump sum payments and for reinstating retirement service if a member returns to work. This change affects retirees and beneficiaries under Washington's public retirement systems (41.40, 41.32, 41.35, and 41.37).

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill ensures public employees receive fair retirement benefits by requiring lump sums to equal actuarial value or accumulated contributions, protecting worker financial security.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5905: Concerning membership in the public employees' retirement system for port workers who participate in a federal railroad retirement plan, a union-sponsored defined benefit retirement plan, or another employer-funded private pension plan.

SB 5905 amends Washington state law to ensure port workers who participate in federal railroad retirement plans, union-sponsored defined benefit plans, or private employer-funded pension plans are not excluded from the state's public employees' retirement system. The bill specifically modifies RCW 41.40.023 to clarify that such port workers retain eligibility for membership in the state retirement system, removing a previous barrier based on their existing retirement plan participation. This change directly affects port workers employed in Washington who already have alternative retirement coverage. The policy adjustment ensures port workers can access the state retirement system without being denied membership solely due to their prior enrollment in other qualified retirement plans.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves barrier preventing port workers from accessing state retirement benefits, expanding worker benefits under employment standards.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5931: Concerning workforce education investment accountability and oversight board administrative changes.

SB 5931 amends Washington's workforce education oversight board structure to improve accountability. It specifies the board's 18-member composition (including legislative chairs, business representatives, labor groups, higher education leaders, students, and other stakeholders) and extends cochair terms from one to two years. The bill requires the board to report annual recommendations to the legislature by December 31st, using data from education and workforce agencies to assess if funding boosts student success metrics like completion and job placement. This procedural change directly affects the oversight board and its coordination with the Student Achievement Council and workforce agencies. It does not create new funding but refines how existing workforce education investments are reviewed and reported.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens oversight of workforce education (higher education subset) via accountability measures and annual funding assessments, improving governance of education programs.80% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncludes labor groups in oversight board composition and mandates data-driven funding assessments for workforce education, strengthening accountability in employment training programs.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5936: Concerning prevention of and remedies for human trafficking.

SB 5936 holds businesses accountable for human trafficking by allowing prosecution if they knowingly engage in trafficking or fail to stop it when aware of a pattern benefiting the business. Businesses found liable face penalties including fines up to $1 million per offense, disgorgement of profits, and debarment from government contracts. The bill strengthens victim confidentiality in trafficking cases, requiring law enforcement to keep victim identities, images, and family information private unless disclosure is necessary for investigation, court orders, or victim services. It also updates existing laws to expand exemptions for victim information in public records, particularly protecting children in sexual exploitation cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeStrengthens victim confidentiality and holds businesses accountable for trafficking, aligning with criminal justice reform to protect victims and enhance legal remedies.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill holds businesses accountable for human trafficking, protecting workers from exploitation and strengthening workplace safety standards through penalties and victim confidentiality.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

signed · Washington · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 2303: Prohibiting employers from microchipping employees.

HB 2303 prohibits employers in Washington state from requiring, requesting, or coercing employees to have microchips implanted. It directly affects all employers (including state agencies) and employees, excluding medical devices used for health monitoring. The bill creates a legal remedy allowing affected employees to sue for damages, attorney fees, and injunctions if violated. It defines "microchip" as subcutaneous devices storing personal data, but clarifies medical implants for health treatment are exempt.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits forced employee microchipping, protecting workers' bodily autonomy and privacy rights in the workplace, aligning with labor rights protections.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits employer microchipping, protecting employee data privacy by restricting unauthorized data storage in subcutaneous devices.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 2345: Concerning contributions in the state paid family and medical leave program.

HB 2345 modifies Washington's state paid family and medical leave program by establishing fixed contribution rates: 52% for medical leave premiums and 48% for family leave premiums, replacing a prior method based on claim data. This affects employers and employees who contribute to the program through payroll deductions, requiring employers to collect these specific percentages from wages. Small employers (under 50 workers) remain exempt from paying the employer portion of premiums, while larger employers must deduct employee shares within defined limits. The bill ensures the total premium rate calculation remains tied to program expenses and reserve requirements, but does not alter the overall contribution burden between employers and employees.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEstablishes fixed contribution rates for state paid family/medical leave program, ensuring stable funding for worker benefits without reducing coverage.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment