Labor & Employment

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1063: Establishing a new chapter for the licensing and regulation of businesses providing earned wage access services.

HB 1063 creates a new licensing and regulatory framework for businesses that offer "earned wage access services" in Washington State. These services allow workers to receive advance payments of wages they’ve already earned but haven’t been paid by their employer (e.g., via apps or employer partnerships). Starting July 1, 2026, providers must obtain a license from the Department of Financial Institutions, undergo background checks for key personnel, and comply with specific fee and reporting rules. The law directly affects businesses offering these services and protects consumers by requiring transparency and oversight, while excluding traditional banks, credit unions, and payroll services. It does not apply to employers who directly pay employees early or to services that merely verify earnings without funding advances.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRegulates EWA services to prevent predatory fees, enabling workers' access to earned wages under a protective framework.92% confidence

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5468: Concerning collective bargaining for agricultural cannabis workers.

SB 5468 would grant agricultural cannabis workers who cultivate, grow, harvest, or produce cannabis on farms the right to form unions and negotiate wages and working conditions through Washington’s Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC). The bill establishes a process for these workers to choose a bargaining representative via PERC-administered elections, requiring 30% employee support to trigger a vote. It specifically covers farm-based cannabis production workers but excludes supervisors with hiring authority. This creates the first formal collective bargaining framework for agricultural cannabis workers in Washington state.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly grants agricultural cannabis workers collective bargaining rights through PERC, directly advancing worker organizing and wage negotiation rights per Labor & Employment criteria.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Labor Standards

Track

passed · Washington · Senate Feb 26, 2026

SB 5328: Establishing a new chapter for the licensing and regulation of businesses providing earned wage access services.

Senate Bill 5328 establishes a new licensing and regulation framework for businesses providing "employer-integrated wage access services" in Washington state. These services allow consumers to access their earned but unpaid income, with the amount determined from employment data obtained from their employer. Starting July 1, 2026, companies offering these services must obtain a license from the Department of Financial Institutions. The bill outlines application requirements, including background checks for officers and directors, and specifies that fees from unlicensed transactions must be refunded and any outstanding proceeds become uncollectible. Banks, credit unions, and similar financial institutions are exempt from this specific chapter.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRegulates wage access services to protect workers' ability to access earned wages, preventing exploitation by unlicensed providers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5540: Concerning students' eligibility to receive unemployment insurance benefits.

SB 5540 repeals a Washington state law (RCW 50.20.095) that previously disqualified students enrolled in school from receiving unemployment insurance benefits. This change directly affects students attending school or higher education who are otherwise eligible for unemployment benefits. The bill removes the automatic disqualification, allowing these students to receive benefits without losing eligibility solely due to their enrollment. The policy change simplifies access to unemployment support for student workers who meet other eligibility criteria.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves disqualification for students from unemployment benefits, expanding access to worker support under employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

Track

signed · Washington · Senate Apr 22, 2025

SB 5459: Concerning call center retention.

Senate Bill 5459, also known as the Washington Call Center Jobs Act, requires call center employers with 50 or more workers to provide 120 days' notice to the state before relocating a significant portion (25% or more) of their operations from Washington to a foreign country. Employers who violate this notice requirement may face civil penalties. Furthermore, employers who relocate call center operations to a foreign country become ineligible for state grants or loans for five years. The bill also mandates that state agencies ensure new contracts for call center services are performed entirely within the United States.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires 120-day notice before call center relocations, protecting workers from sudden job loss and imposing penalties for violations, directly advancing worker retention rights.92% confidence

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

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Public Employees

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1839: Increasing the investments in our workforce by amending the advanced computing surcharge.

HB 1839 imposes a 1.22% surcharge on select advanced computing businesses with global revenue exceeding $25 billion annually, targeting large tech firms engaged in software, cloud services, or platforms like social media. The tax applies to affiliated groups (e.g., parent companies and subsidiaries), with exemptions for hospitals and healthcare providers. Revenue generated will fund workforce programs, including expanding the Washington College Grant for families earning up to 70% of median income, increasing STEM teacher training, growing in-state college seats, and supporting student work-study in STEM fields. The bill aims to address a projected 600,000-worker shortfall by directing funds to education and training aligned with high-demand sectors like technology and healthcare.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill imposes new tax on large tech firms to fund workforce programs, directly increasing state revenue allocation for public services per summary.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates surcharge revenue to expand Washington College Grant, directly increasing higher education access for low-income families.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds workforce programs including Washington College Grant expansion for low-income families, directly advancing employment opportunities and education access per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Fees & Licensing State Budget Higher Education Teachers

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1597: Authorizing agricultural employers to select 12 weeks a year to employ workers for up to 50 hours a week before overtime applies.

HB 1597 would allow Washington agricultural employers to select any 12 weeks per year during which they can require workers to work up to 50 hours without triggering overtime pay - currently required after 40 hours. This amendment to Washington’s overtime law (RCW 49.46.130) directly affects farm employers and agricultural workers by extending a seasonal flexibility window previously limited to dairy under a court ruling. The bill creates a temporary exemption during these 12 weeks, shifting the overtime threshold from 40 to 50 hours for crop and livestock workers during peak labor demand periods. It does not change overtime requirements outside these designated weeks.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill extends overtime exemption, allowing 50-hour workweeks without overtime pay, weakening current labor protections for agricultural workers under RCW 49.46.130.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

Track

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

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Tags Artificial Intelligence

Track

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

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicare Telehealth