Labor & Employment (Collective Bargaining)

in committee · Washington · House Feb 2, 2026

HB 2712: Making collective bargaining for school districts subject to the open public meetings act.

HB 2712 requires Washington school districts to conduct all collective bargaining negotiations (including contract talks and grievance meetings) publicly, either in person or via video streaming, and to post all negotiation documents and final agreements on their public website within two business days. It mandates public notice of meetings per the Open Public Meetings Act (chapter 42.30 RCW) but does not require public comment during negotiations or cover post-agreement grievance proceedings. The bill directly affects school districts and their negotiations with employee organizations, ensuring transparency in the bargaining process. Violations would be treated as breaches of the Open Public Meetings Act.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates public transparency in school district collective bargaining negotiations, strengthening worker rights through open process and accountability per labor & employment indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Tags Government Transparency

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 6345: Making transportation projects on state-owned highways subject to certain contracting conditions.

SB 6345 requires that all contracts for transportation projects on state-owned highways in Washington must pay prevailing wages established by the industrial statistician. It directs the industrial statistician to prioritize collective bargaining agreement rates for trades with union contracts, using the rate covering the most workers if multiple agreements exist, and to conduct wage surveys only where no agreements apply. The law applies to contracts bid or awarded on or after June 1, 2029, and amends existing law to clarify that prevailing wage determinations must follow these rules. This directly affects contractors working on state highway projects by mandating specific wage standards for laborers and mechanics.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates prevailing wages with priority for union rates, directly advancing worker compensation standards under labor & employment policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

Track

in committee · Washington · House Feb 2, 2026

HB 2607: Concerning child care rate regions.

HB 2607 sets new standards for Washington state's child care subsidy rates, directly affecting licensed and certified child care providers who receive state-funded payments. Starting July 2026, base rates must reach the 85th percentile of local market rates (based on a pre-May 2025 survey), with regional adjustments for cost of living and economic differences like rural vs. urban areas. The law requires the state department to review and update regional rates every four years starting in 2026, ensuring no provider loses funding due to these changes. It also mandates developing a cost model to eventually cover full high-quality care costs and preserves collective bargaining rights for family child care providers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases state funding for child care subsidies by mandating higher reimbursement rates tied to market data, directly advancing public service funding.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentSets fair subsidy rates (85th percentile) for child care providers, ensuring adequate compensation that supports their employment conditions and aligns with labor standards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2276: Improving the functioning of home care rate statutes.

HB 2276 requires Washington's Department of Health to annually calculate home care agency labor rates (every odd-numbered year) based on negotiated wages, benefits, and employer costs for direct care workers. The bill mandates that these rates fund specific worker compensation items like wages, vacation/sick pay, health benefits, training, and travel time costs - prohibiting duplicate accounting or misuse of funds. Home care agencies must verify proper use through third-party audits or union attestations, with the department establishing transparent processes for exemptions during extraordinary circumstances. This directly affects home care agencies and the direct care workers they employ, ensuring state-funded rates align with actual labor costs and worker protections under state law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates funding for home care workers' health benefits and wages, strengthening workforce support in healthcare delivery.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates funding for direct care worker compensation including wages, benefits, and training, preventing misuse of funds to protect worker rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Collective Bargaining Labor Standards

Track

signed · Washington · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 2471: Concerning collective bargaining for employees not covered by the national labor relations act.

HB 2471 establishes a state framework for collective bargaining rights when federal labor laws no longer apply to certain private-sector workers in Washington. It directly affects employees not covered by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRB), such as independent contractors, supervisors, or workers in industries where the NLRB lacks jurisdiction. The bill creates procedures for certifying bargaining representatives and ensures existing agreements remain valid during transitions, using the Public Employment Relations Commission to handle disputes. Key provisions include defining "employee" and "employer," requiring one-month certification timelines for existing representatives, and mandating the Commission to resolve disagreements over bargaining units. This law fills gaps in labor protections without altering federal jurisdiction.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEstablishes state collective bargaining framework for NLRB-excluded workers (e.g., contractors), directly advancing union organizing rights and protecting existing agreements per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Professional Licensing

in committee · Washington · House Jan 22, 2026

HB 2622: Concerning comparison factors that must be considered in interest arbitration for correctional employees regarding wages, hours, and conditions of employment.

HB 2622 requires arbitrators to consider specific factors when resolving wage, hour, and working condition disputes for Washington Department of Corrections employees (excluding confidential staff and internal auditors) through interest arbitration. Key provisions mandate that arbitrators evaluate the department’s financial ability to pay, compare wages/hours/conditions to similar correctional workers in other western U.S. state employers and Washington local governments, assess retention needs, and review current total compensation (including benefits and paid time off). This law aims to standardize arbitration outcomes by focusing on regional pay benchmarks and operational realities. The bill amends existing law (RCW 41.80.200) to formalize these comparison requirements during dispute resolution.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates arbitrators to consider regional wage comparisons and retention needs, ensuring fair compensation for correctional workers through interest arbitration.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 20, 2026

HB 2409: Placing agricultural employees under the jurisdiction of the public employment relations commission for the purpose of collective bargaining.

HB 2409 extends collective bargaining rights to agricultural employees in Washington State, including farmworkers and those in food processing, packing, and distribution. It places these workers under the jurisdiction of the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC), allowing them to negotiate wages, hours, and working conditions through elected representatives. The bill defines key terms (like "agricultural employee" and "bargaining representative") and requires PERC to handle disputes while addressing barriers like language differences and seasonal work patterns. This policy change directly affects agricultural employers and workers, shifting their labor relations under state law rather than federal oversight.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends collective bargaining rights to agricultural workers via PERC, enabling negotiation of wages, hours, and conditions - directly strengthening labor protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Labor Standards

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 22, 2026

HB 2630: Concerning collective bargaining for state employee job classifications.

HB 2630 requires state agencies to negotiate with employee organizations over job classifications and salary surveys for state employees, beginning January 1, 2028. The bill sets standards for classification plans, including simplicity, support for workplace diversity, and ensuring college degrees aren't required unless legally mandated for a role. It also changes collective bargaining rules to include negotiations over job classifications, promotional preferences, and health care spending per employee, using a coalition of all relevant employee organizations. This directly affects state employees in classified positions and their unions, as well as the state's financial management director.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly requires negotiation over healthcare spending as part of collective bargaining, ensuring funding stability for state employee health benefits.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates state agencies to negotiate job classifications, promotions, and healthcare spending with employee organizations, directly strengthening collective bargaining rights under Labor & Employment policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Labor Standards Public Employees

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 26, 2026

SB 6045: Placing agricultural employees under the jurisdiction of the public employment relations commission for the purpose of collective bargaining.

SB 6045 extends collective bargaining rights to agricultural employees in Washington State, placing them under the jurisdiction of the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) for negotiations on wages, hours, and working conditions. It directly affects farmworkers and agricultural employers, excluding supervisors, family members, and those covered by federal labor laws. The bill establishes procedures for fair bargaining, including culturally and linguistically appropriate processes to address barriers like seasonal work and language differences. It defines key terms and ensures PERC can enforce protections against employer interference in union activities.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends collective bargaining rights to agricultural workers via PERC, directly supporting labor rights and collective bargaining under Labor & Employment policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Labor Standards

Track

signed · Washington · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SB 6019: Improving the functioning of home care rate statutes.

SB 6019 reformulates how Washington state calculates and allocates payments to home care agencies for direct care workers. It requires the state department to convert negotiated wage and benefit changes into an hourly rate every odd-numbered year, ensuring all funds dedicated to wages, benefits, and employer costs directly support workers providing home care. The bill mandates strict separation of funds - requiring that health care, training, and administrative costs be used only for their designated purposes - and requires agencies to verify compliance through audits or union attestations starting July 2027. This directly affects home care agencies (as recipients of state payments) and home care workers (who receive the allocated wages and benefits).

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates strict separation of funds to ensure wage/benefit allocations directly support home care workers, preventing diversion to administrative costs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining