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.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Jan 14, 2026
Signed Mar 14, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
Second Substitute Bill
→
Second Substitute Passed Legislature
·
3 edits
MINOR
The document was updated from a draft version to the official certification of enrollment, confirming that the bill passed both the House and Senate in the 2026 Regular Session. This change formalizes the bill's final status and authorizes the Secretary of State to print and distribute the official text of the law.
ENFORCEMENT
Added the official certification of enrollment, including vote counts and signatures from legislative leaders, to validate the bill's passage.
TECHNICAL
Inserted the official title 'CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT' and session details to replace the draft header.
Removed the draft bill number 'H-3499.1' and replaced it with the final legislative text.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 4, 2026 · House Feb 13, 2026
How they voted
51–0
Passed
Total votes 51
Mar 4, 2026
D
Democratic31
100% Yea
R
Republican20
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
36
Key actions
17
Committee
16
Mar 14, 2026
Signed into law
Governor signed.
executive
Mar 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
President signed.
upper
Mar 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Speaker signed.
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (51-0)
senate
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Minority; without recommendation.
upper
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
WM - Majority; do pass.
upper
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 10:30 AM.
upper
Feb 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 2:30 PM.
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Committee
Referred to Ways & Means.
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Minority; do not pass.
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Committee
And refer to Ways & Means.
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
LC - Majority; do pass.
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 10:45 AM.
upper
Feb 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 10:30 AM.
upper
Feb 13, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (96-0-4)
house
Feb 9, 2026
Committee
Referred to Rules 2 Review.
lower
Feb 7, 2026
Lower · Passed
Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 9:00 AM.
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 10:30 AM.
lower
Feb 3, 2026
Committee
Referred to Appropriations.
lower
Jan 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
Executive action taken in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards at 10:30 AM.
lower
Jan 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Public hearing in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards at 10:30 AM.
lower
1 primary · 16 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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