Concerning labor standards.
SB 5578 updates Washington's labor standards by clarifying who qualifies as an "employee" for wage and leave protections, directly affecting most workers while maintaining specific exemptions. Key provisions include requiring paid vacation leave for exempt employees (like managers and professionals) under new accrual rules, expanding the definition of "family member" for leave purposes, and adding new exclusions for certain agricultural, domestic, and volunteer roles. The bill amends existing labor codes to strengthen coverage for workers not currently protected under current definitions, such as those in executive or professional roles. It does not change basic overtime rules but ensures consistent paid leave standards across more job categories.
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
3
Key actions
1
Committee
1
Jan 12, 2026
Introduced
By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
upper
Feb 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 10:30 AM.
upper
1 primary · 9 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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