Concerning public employee collective bargaining processes.
Senate Bill 5503 revises collective bargaining processes for public employees in Washington State. It modifies how the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) handles petitions to form new bargaining units and allows for the consolidation of existing units represented by the same employee organization. The bill also enhances PERC's procedural authority in setting hearing dates and enforcing subpoenas. Additionally, it establishes specific interest arbitration rights and an impasse resolution process for certain employees of the Department of Corrections.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 27, 2025
Signed May 20, 2025
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What changed between versions
Substitute Bill
→
Substitute Passed Legislature
·
5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was finalized and passed by the legislature, adding a certification page and updating the official title to reflect amendments to three specific RCW sections. The core policy changes include expanding the commission's authority to intervene in bargaining unit disputes, creating a new interest arbitration process for Department of Corrections employees, and establishing stricter timelines and financial certification requirements for ferry system collective bargaining agreements.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to include amendments to RCW 41.80.200 (Department of Corrections) and RCW 47.64.170 (Ferry System), in addition to the previously listed RCW 41.56.050.
REQUIREMENT
Expanded the commission's power to intervene in disagreements regarding the selection or merger of bargaining units for public employees.
Established a new interest arbitration process for Department of Corrections employees, detailing timelines, arbitrator selection, and factors for decision-making.
TIMELINE
Updated ferry system negotiation timelines, requiring negotiations to start by February 1st of even-numbered years and setting specific deadlines for arbitrator selection and agreement execution.
FISCAL
Strengthened financial requirements for the governor to submit funding requests for ferry agreements, mandating certification by the Office of Financial Management by October 1st.
DEFINITION
Added a new section prohibiting public employers from requiring workers to waive statutory rights as a condition for settling grievances.
Floor votes · Senate Apr 22, 2025 · House Apr 15, 2025
How they voted
32–18
Passed
Total votes 50
Apr 22, 2025
D
Democratic30
100% Yea
R
Republican20
90% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
28
Key actions
13
Committee
8
May 20, 2025
Signed into law
Governor signed.
executive
Apr 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Speaker signed.
lower
Apr 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
President signed.
upper
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed final passage; yeas, 30; nays, 18; absent, 0; excused, 0.
upper
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred in House amendments.
upper
Apr 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Floor amendment(s) adopted.
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Committee
Referred to Rules 2 Review.
lower
Mar 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Minority; do not pass.
lower
Mar 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
LAWS - Majority; do pass.
lower
Mar 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Executive action taken in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards at 10:30 AM.
lower
Mar 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Public hearing in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards at 10:30 AM.
lower
Feb 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Minority; do not pass.
upper
Feb 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 8:00 AM.
upper
Feb 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 10:30 AM.
upper
1 primary · 6 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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