Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · House May 12, 2025

HB 1332: Concerning transportation network companies.

HB 1332 concerns transportation network companies (TNCs) and their drivers. The bill requires TNCs to provide drivers with information about which vehicle makes, models, and years are eligible for each ride product class offered. It mandates that TNCs reinstate vehicles that lost eligibility due to age or model type in the prior 12 months for at least another 12 months. Additionally, TNCs must give drivers 120 days' written notice before modifying vehicle age or model type requirements for existing product classes.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires TNCs to provide vehicle eligibility info and 120-day notice for changes, protecting drivers' ability to continue working without abrupt loss of platform access.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · House May 12, 2025

HB 1395: Streamlining the home care worker background check process.

HB 1395 streamlines the background check process for home care workers, long-term care providers, and others working with vulnerable adults and children in Washington state. It prevents the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) from automatically disqualifying individuals for certain past criminal convictions, such as specific theft or assault charges, once a specified number of years have passed. However, DSHS or authorized entities can still consider these convictions during a "character, competence, and suitability review," and clients must be informed of an approved provider's background check results before services begin. The bill also allows some providers to work for up to 30 days while their review is pending, with client notification, and limits when new suitability reviews are required for previously cleared non-disqualifying issues.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents automatic disqualification for certain past convictions after time limits, reducing barriers to employment for individuals with criminal records - aligns with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves automatic disqualification for certain convictions in home care employment, expanding job access for workers with past records while maintaining safety considerations.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · Senate Apr 29, 2025

SB 5494: Protecting Washington communities from lead-based paint.

SB 5494 strengthens Washington's program to protect communities from lead-based paint hazards, particularly children. It designates the Department of Commerce to administer and enforce a state program for training, certifying, and accrediting individuals and firms involved in lead-based paint activities. This includes establishing a renovation, repair, and painting program that requires certified professionals to follow specific work standards for renovations in pre-1978 homes and child-occupied facilities. The bill aims to ensure a qualified workforce performs lead-based paint abatement and renovation activities safely, reducing public exposure to lead.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates certified professionals to follow safety work standards for lead paint renovations, improving workplace safety for workers handling hazardous materials.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 1644: Concerning the safety and health of working minors.

HB 1644, "Concerning the safety and health of working minors," aims to strengthen protections for young workers in Washington state. The bill amends the criteria for "responsible bidders" on public works contracts, requiring that contractors not have a revoked minor work permit to be eligible for these projects. It also modifies the process for issuing citations to employers who violate requirements related to minor work permits. These provisions are intended to promote adherence to safety and health standards for minors in the workplace.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill strengthens minor worker safety by requiring valid permits for public contracts and modifying enforcement, directly protecting young workers' health and safety per summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · House Apr 25, 2025

HB 1875: Allowing the use of paid sick leave to prepare for or participate in certain immigration proceedings.

Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1875 expands the reasons for which employees in Washington state can use their accrued paid sick leave. It allows employees to use this leave to prepare for or participate in judicial or administrative immigration proceedings for themselves or a family member. For absences exceeding three days for this purpose, employees can provide verification through documentation from an immigration advocate, attorney, or clergy, or a written statement from the employee, without disclosing sensitive immigration status details. The bill ensures that employees can attend these proceedings without losing pay.

Topics ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationExpands paid sick leave for immigration proceedings, enabling access to legal services without wage loss. Directly supports immigrant rights and access to proceedings.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands paid sick leave usage for immigration proceedings, directly strengthening worker benefits and rights under employment standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 1141: Concerning collective bargaining for agricultural cannabis workers.

HB 1141 grants agricultural workers involved in cultivating, growing, harvesting, or producing cannabis the right to collective bargaining. It places these workers and their employers under the jurisdiction of the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC). PERC will oversee the process for employees to organize, elect bargaining representatives, and engage in good faith negotiations with employers on wages, hours, and working conditions. The bill also defines and prohibits unfair labor practices by employers related to these organizing rights.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentGrants cannabis agricultural workers collective bargaining rights under PERC, directly advancing worker organizing and negotiation rights per bill summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · Senate Apr 22, 2025

SB 5501: Concerning employer requirements for driving.

Substitute Senate Bill 5501 prohibits employers from requiring a valid driver's license as a condition of employment or in job postings, unless driving is an essential job function or related to a legitimate business purpose. This law directly affects employers and job applicants in Washington state. The bill establishes a process for the director to investigate complaints, allowing for orders of actual and statutory damages (at least $5,000), interest, and investigation costs to the complainant. Employers may also face civil penalties of up to $500 for a first violation and up to $1,000 or 10% of damages for repeat offenses.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits unnecessary driver's license requirements in hiring, protecting applicants from discriminatory barriers and advancing workers' rights under Labor & Employment standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · House Apr 21, 2025

HB 1821: Expanding the definition of "interested party" for the purposes of prevailing wage laws.

House Bill 1821 expands the definition of an "interested party" under state prevailing wage laws, which govern the wages and benefits for workers on public construction projects. This change broadens who can be recognized as an interested party. The expanded definition now specifically includes contractors, subcontractors, their employees, organizations representing affected workers, joint labor-management committees, and Taft-Hartley trusts, alongside the director of labor and industries. This measure allows a wider range of groups to participate in matters related to prevailing wage compliance.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands 'interested party' to include worker organizations, labor committees, and employees, strengthening their role in prevailing wage decisions to protect workers' rights.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · House Apr 21, 2025

HB 1747: Expanding protections for applicants and employees under the Washington fair chance act.

HB 1747 expands protections for job applicants and employees under Washington's Fair Chance Act. The bill prohibits employers from inquiring about an applicant's criminal record until after a conditional offer of employment has been made. It also prevents employers from taking adverse employment action based on arrest records or juvenile conviction records. For adult conviction records, employers must have a legitimate business reason, notify the individual, and provide an opportunity for them to explain or provide additional information before making a decision.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands Fair Chance Act to prevent employment discrimination based on criminal records, reducing barriers to reentry and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands job applicant protections by restricting criminal record inquiries pre-offer and preventing adverse actions based on certain records, strengthening worker rights under Fair Chance Act.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · House Apr 21, 2025

HB 1105: Exempting exclusive bargaining representatives for department of corrections employees from certain provisions related to coalition bargaining.

House Bill 1105 exempts certain exclusive bargaining representatives for Department of Corrections (DOC) employees from specific state rules regarding collective bargaining. Specifically, unions representing most DOC employees with interest arbitration rights will no longer be required to participate in coalition bargaining, a process often mandated for smaller unions. Instead, these individual DOC employee unions will directly negotiate one master collective bargaining agreement with the governor or their designee. This change does not apply to exclusive bargaining representatives for marine department employees at the DOC.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExempts DOC unions from coalition bargaining, allowing direct negotiations - strengthens collective bargaining rights for employee representatives.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment