Labor & Employment

passed · Washington · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 1622: Allowing bargaining over matters related to the use of artificial intelligence.

House Bill 1622 allows public sector employees in Washington state to collectively bargain with their employers over the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace. The bill amends existing state law to remove the "use of technology" from a list of management rights that are typically not subject to negotiation for employees in higher education and other state agencies. It defines artificial intelligence as machine learning and related technologies that enable computer systems to perform tasks like computer vision or natural language processing. This change empowers unions and public employers to negotiate agreements on the implementation and utilization of AI technologies.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly enables public sector workers to collectively bargain over AI use, expanding collective bargaining rights as a core labor protection.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

Track

passed · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1402: Concerning job postings requiring driver's licenses.

House Bill 1402 makes it an unfair practice for Washington state employers to include a driver's license requirement in job advertisements or applications unless the position's core functions genuinely necessitate operating a motor vehicle. This bill clarifies that transportation to and from the job site does not constitute a job function requiring a driver's license. Individuals harmed by a violation can pursue civil action to stop the practice and recover damages and attorney's fees.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPrevents unnecessary driver's license requirements in job postings, protecting workers from discriminatory hiring barriers and advancing fair employment practices per bill's unfair practice provisions.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

Track

passed · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1233: Concerning work programs for incarcerated persons.

House Bill 1233, known as the "ending forced labor act," aims to reform work programs for incarcerated persons within Washington State's correctional facilities. The bill updates legal terminology, replacing terms like "inmate" and "offender" with "incarcerated person." While the specific changes to work programs are not detailed in the provided text, the bill's title indicates a focus on ensuring these programs do not constitute forced labor. It also distinguishes between "privileges" earned through good conduct and performance, and services the department is legally required to provide.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill targets forced labor in correctional work programs, aligning with criminal justice reform goals to protect incarcerated persons' rights and improve humane treatment.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly targets forced labor in correctional work programs, aligning with workers' rights protection. Replaces dehumanizing terms to promote dignity and prevent exploitation.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

Track

signed · Washington · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 5807: Concerning wellness incentives for public and school employee health benefit plans.

Senate Bill 5807 modifies the wellness programs offered through public and school employee health benefit plans. The bill discontinues the "smart health program," including its wellness incentive and online portal, for these employees, effective January 1, 2028. While employees who meet eligibility requirements for an incentive by December 31, 2027, will still receive it in the 2028 plan year, no new wellness incentives can be earned after that date. The legislation shifts the focus to broader wellness initiatives that emphasize preventative health strategies.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill discontinues wellness incentives in public/school employee health plans, restricting access to wellness program benefits effective 2028.85% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill discontinues wellness incentives for public/school employees, removing a benefit that employees could earn through health programs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 5101: Expanding access to leave and safety accommodations to include workers who are victims of hate crimes or bias incidents.

SB 5101 expands existing Washington State protections for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking to also include employees who are victims of hate crimes or bias incidents, or whose family members are victims. The bill allows these employees to take reasonable leave from work, which can be intermittent or on a reduced schedule, with or without pay. This leave can be used for reasons such as seeking legal assistance, medical treatment, counseling, or engaging in safety planning related to the hate crime. Employers are required to provide reasonable safety accommodations and may ask for verification of the incident and the need for leave.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides leave for medical treatment and counseling, directly enabling access to healthcare services for victims of hate crimes.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands workplace leave protections to include hate crime victims, strengthening worker safety rights and access to accommodations under Labor & Employment policies.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 5291: Implementing the recommendations of the long-term services and supports trust commission.

SB 5291 strengthens the WA Cares long-term care program by implementing recommendations from the long-term services and supports trust commission. The bill allows individuals who have paid into the program for at least three years while working in Washington to continue their participation and eligibility for benefits even if they move out of state. It also establishes a clear process for how the program's benefit unit, currently up to $100, will be adjusted annually for inflation using a specific consumer price index. Additionally, the bill expands the definition of approved services to explicitly include long-term services and supports provided in nursing homes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStrengthens WA Cares long-term care program by expanding eligibility (out-of-state moves) and adjusting benefits for inflation, directly advancing healthcare access and coverage for long-term services.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands portability of long-term care benefits for workers, ensuring continued eligibility after relocation and inflation adjustments, directly strengthening employment-related benefits.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 5083: Ensuring access to primary care, behavioral health, and affordable hospital services.

SB 5083 aims to ensure access to primary care, behavioral health, and affordable hospital services for public employees and their dependents in Washington state. It sets caps on how much health carriers can reimburse in-network hospitals for inpatient and outpatient services, generally limiting them to 200% of Medicare rates in 2027 and 190% in 2029, with higher limits for children's specialty hospitals. The bill also mandates minimum reimbursement rates for in-network primary care and non-facility-based behavioral health services (150% of Medicare) and for rural critical access hospitals. Additionally, it requires certain hospitals to contract with health carriers serving public employees and mandates data sharing with the Health Care Authority for monitoring.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates minimum reimbursements for primary care and behavioral health, caps hospital rates to ensure affordability, and explicitly aims to 'ensure access' to covered services for public employees.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill ensures healthcare access/affordability for public employees, expanding employment benefits through mandated reimbursement standards and cost caps.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 5503: 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.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill enhances collective bargaining by allowing unit consolidation, strengthening PERC authority, and establishing interest arbitration rights, directly supporting labor organizing processes.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · Senate May 19, 2025

SB 5041: Concerning unemployment insurance benefits for striking or lockout workers.

Senate Bill 5041 revises the eligibility rules for unemployment insurance benefits in Washington state for workers involved in labor disputes. The bill removes the disqualification for benefits for individuals whose unemployment is caused by an employer lockout. For workers unemployed due to a strike, the disqualification period now ends on the second Sunday after the strike begins, or when the strike terminates, whichever occurs first. However, benefits received due to a strike are capped at six calendar weeks, and the employer is notified of available mediation services.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill removes disqualification for lockout workers and shortens strike disqualification period, expanding unemployment benefits access for workers in labor disputes, protecting their rights during strikes.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · Senate May 17, 2025

SB 5463: Concerning the duties of industrial insurance self-insured employers and third-party administrators.

Senate Bill 5463 expands and clarifies the duties of all self-insured employers and their third-party administrators concerning industrial insurance claims in Washington state. It establishes a clear duty of good faith and fair dealing towards workers, prohibiting actions like coercing workers to accept less than due compensation. The bill empowers the Department of Labor & Industries to investigate violations, impose penalties payable to workers, and mandate corrective actions for repeated failures to uphold this duty. Employers who repeatedly violate these good faith requirements or fail to comply with corrective actions may ultimately have their self-insurer certification withdrawn.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates good faith in claims, prohibits coercion for underpayment, and empowers enforcement to protect worker compensation rights.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment