Labor & Employment (Workers' Compensation)

SB 5927 caps the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for certain workers' compensation pensions at 3%, replacing the current system that tied adjustments to annual changes in Washington's average monthly wage. It directly affects workers receiving pensions under pre-1971 compensation schedules, including surviving spouses and permanently disabled workers. The key change modifies how pension payments are adjusted each year - limiting increases to 3% regardless of actual wage fluctuations, which have previously ranged from 2% to 10.1% annually. This aims to stabilize program costs after cumulative premium increases exceeded 22% since 2020, while maintaining existing benefit formulas.