SB 5062 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Establishing a child care workforce standards board.

SB 5062 would create a Washington state Child Care Workforce Standards Board to establish minimum pay and working conditions for child care workers. The board, composed of six worker and employer representatives plus parent and state agency members, would set standards for wages, safety, and other employment terms affecting all licensed child care providers and their direct care staff (excluding administrative roles). Key mechanisms include public hearings on industry conditions, rulemaking authority for minimum standards, and protections against retaliation for workers participating in the process. The bill directly impacts over 40,000 child care workers and 1,400+ licensed providers across Washington State.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

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

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill → Substitute Bill · 8 edits

MODERATE

The bill was updated to reflect its progression through the legislative process, changing the title to 'Substitute Bill' and adding a new requirement for a formal data-sharing agreement between state departments. Key substantive changes include expanding board membership to include a representative for school-age programs and small businesses, increasing the voting threshold for board actions from five to six members, and clarifying the board's authority to set standards for specific geographic regions. The number of required training languages was reduced from four to three, and the definition of eligible child care workers was narrowed to those employed at licensed or certified facilities.

Scope change

The scope of the bill was narrowed regarding who qualifies as a 'child care worker' (now limited to those at licensed or certified providers) and expanded regarding board representation to include school-age program workers and small business owners.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'child care worker' was modified to explicitly limit eligibility to workers at child care providers licensed or certified by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families.

REQUIREMENT

A new requirement was added for the board to include one member representing workers in school-age programs.

A new requirement was added for the board to include one member representing a small business with 15 or fewer employees.

The number of board members required to vote in favor of any action was increased from five to six.

The requirement for the board to establish standards for specific child care occupations was expanded to also allow standards for specific geographic regions.

The number of languages required for training materials and notices was reduced from four to the three most commonly spoken languages in the state.

A new requirement mandates that the Department of Labor and Industries and the Department of Children, Youth, and Families enter into a formal data-sharing agreement by October 1, 2025.

The condition for standards to be less protective than existing rules was modified to remove the requirement for a determination under subsection (d) regarding health and safety standards.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 12, 2026

Introduced

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 4:00 PM.

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Committee

Referred to Ways & Means.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Committee

And refer to Ways & Means.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 8:00 AM.

upper

Jan 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 10:30 AM.

upper

1 primary · 11 co-sponsors