HB 1843 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Concerning students' eligibility to receive unemployment insurance benefits.

HB 1843 repeals a state law that previously disqualified students attending school or higher education from receiving unemployment insurance benefits. This change directly affects students who are enrolled in educational programs and seeking unemployment benefits due to job loss. The bill removes the barrier that prevented these students from qualifying for benefits solely based on their enrollment status. As a result, students meeting other eligibility criteria (like recent work history) would no longer be automatically disqualified for attending school. The bill passed the House committee with majority support in February 2025.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Last action Jan 12, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
4
Committee
5
Jan 12, 2026
Introduced
By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
lower
Feb 20, 2025
Committee
Referred to Rules 2 Review.
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Minority; without recommendation.
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
LAWS - Majority; do pass.
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Executive action taken in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards at 10:30 AM.
lower
Feb 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Public hearing in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards at 10:30 AM.
lower
1 primary · 8 co-sponsors

Sponsors