Relating to: prohibiting abusive work environments and creating a cause of action. (FE)
AB 476 creates a new legal right for employees to sue employers or co-workers for creating an "abusive work environment" that causes physical or psychological harm. It defines "abusive conduct" as repeated verbal abuse, threats, sabotage of work, or exploitation of health conditions - excluding single incidents unless exceptionally severe. Employees can seek remedies like medical costs, back pay, or front pay through a civil lawsuit filed within one year of the abusive conduct, while also prohibiting retaliation for reporting abuse or participating in investigations. The law directly affects employees experiencing such conduct and employers/co-workers who engage in it, with specific procedures requiring notification to the department for certain claims.
Bill status
failed
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Oct 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Oct 9, 2025
Last action Mar 23, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
6
Key actions
0
Committee
0
Oct 9, 2025
Introduced
Introduced by Representatives Tenorio, Bare, Anderson, Andraca, Arney, Brown, Clancy, DeSmidt, Fitzgerald, Joers, Kirsch, Madison, McCarville, Miresse, Moore Omokunde, Palmeri, Phelps, Rivera-Wagner, Snodgrass, Stroud, Subeck, Udell and Johnson;
cosponsored by Senators Spreitzer, Habush Sinykin, Hesselbein, Larson, Ratcliff, Roys and Smith
lower
23 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Alex Joers
DDemocratic
P
Amaad Rivera-Wagner
DDemocratic
P
Angela Stroud
DDemocratic
P
Angelito Tenorio
DDemocratic
P
Ben DeSmidt
DDemocratic
P
Brienne Brown
DDemocratic
P
Christian Phelps
DDemocratic
P
Clint Anderson
DDemocratic
P
Darrin Madison
DDemocratic
P
Deb Andraca
DDemocratic
P
Joan Fitzgerald
DDemocratic
P
Karen Kirsch
DDemocratic
P
Lee Snodgrass
DDemocratic
P
Lisa Subeck
DDemocratic
P
Lori Palmeri
DDemocratic
P
Margaret Arney
DDemocratic
P
Maureen McCarville
DDemocratic
P
Mike Bare
DDemocratic
P
Randy Udell
DDemocratic
P
Ryan Clancy
DDemocratic
P
Supreme Moore Omokunde
DDemocratic
P
Tara Johnson
DDemocratic
P
Vinnie Miresse
DDemocratic
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