Labor & Employment

signed · Washington · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 1069: Allowing collective bargaining over contributions for certain supplemental retirement benefits.

HB 1069 amends Washington state law to allow collective bargaining between public employers and employee organizations regarding contributions for certain supplemental retirement benefits. Currently, state law prevents bargaining over retirement plans and benefits administered by the Department of Retirement Systems. This bill clarifies that employers can now negotiate over contributions for additional retirement benefits, including medical plans, as long as these benefits are administered by or on behalf of an employee organization. This change enables discussions over these specific benefit contributions, while still excluding the core state retirement plans from collective bargaining.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEnables collective bargaining over supplemental retirement benefits, strengthening workers' negotiation rights for additional benefits like medical plans.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

signed · Washington · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 5431: Modifying tax and revenue laws in a manner that is not estimated to affect state or local tax collections.

Substitute Senate Bill 5431 modifies certain tax and revenue laws without impacting state or local tax collections. It updates legislative intent regarding the extension of preferential tax rates for manufacturers and wholesalers in the solar silicon industry, tying future extensions to employment and wage growth criteria. Additionally, the bill amends rules for sellers concerning their personal liability for uncollected sales tax. It clarifies conditions for sellers to be relieved from this liability, including removing the requirement for them to renew blanket exemption certificates for recurring customers.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill provides preferential tax rates for solar silicon manufacturers, tying extensions to employment/wage growth, directly supporting renewable energy production infrastructure.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly ties tax incentives to employment and wage growth criteria, directly advancing labor and employment outcomes through policy design.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Solar

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5433: Exempting exclusive bargaining representatives for department of corrections employees from certain provisions related to coalition bargaining.

SB 5433 would allow unions representing Washington State Department of Corrections employees to negotiate a single master collective bargaining agreement directly with the governor or the governor's designee, rather than forming coalitions with other unions. Currently, most state agency bargaining units representing fewer than 500 employees must form coalitions, but Department of Corrections employees were only partially exempt (the marine department was exempt while others were not). This bill would extend the direct negotiation process to all Corrections employees, eliminating the need for coalitions across the entire department. The change applies solely to Corrections employees and does not affect bargaining rules for other state agencies.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill removes coalition bargaining requirement, allowing corrections unions to negotiate directly with governor, strengthening collective bargaining rights for this workforce.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

Track

signed · Washington · House Apr 25, 2025

HB 1068: Removing the exclusion from interest arbitration of Washington management service employees at the department of corrections.

House Bill 1068 removes the exclusion of Washington management service employees at the Department of Corrections from interest arbitration. This change grants these employees access to an alternative process for resolving disputes over their collective bargaining agreements. If negotiations and mediation fail to reach an agreement, an independent arbitrator will be appointed to make a binding decision on the terms of their employment. The arbitrator's decision will consider factors such as the department's financial ability, comparable wages, and the ability to retain employees.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves exclusion from interest arbitration for correctional management employees, expanding collective bargaining rights through binding arbitration when negotiations fail.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1036: Adding labor trustees to college boards.

HB 1036 requires Washington's community colleges, regional universities, and The Evergreen State College to include at least one labor representative on each governing board. This bill amends existing laws to mandate that labor representation be considered when appointing board members, alongside geographical diversity and representation of women, racial, and ethnic minorities. The labor trustee must be appointed by the governor and cannot be an employee of the higher education system. This change directly affects the composition of college governing boards but does not alter policies affecting students or faculty. The bill takes effect October 1, 2030.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires labor representation on college boards, strengthening governance to include worker perspectives in higher education policy decisions.75% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates labor representation on college boards, ensuring worker voices influence governance decisions affecting higher education employment policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1398: Concerning factors which are considered in interest arbitration for adult family home providers.

HB 1398 amends state law to update rules for interest arbitration panels deciding wages and working conditions for employees at adult family home providers (facilities caring for elderly or disabled individuals). The bill requires panels to consider West Coast wage comparisons for similar workers, regional cost-of-living differences, and the state's financial ability to pay. It also mandates panels to weigh factors like reducing reliance on public assistance programs (e.g., food stamps, housing aid) and promoting workforce stability in long-term care. These changes directly affect arbitration outcomes for caregivers in adult family homes across Washington. The bill does not create new funding but guides how existing resources are allocated during wage negotiations.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates arbitration panels to consider West Coast wage comparisons, cost-of-living, and state financial ability for adult family home workers, ensuring fairer wages and reducing public assistance reliance.90% confidence

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1738: Ensuring access to state benefits and opportunities for veterans, uniformed service members, and military spouses.

HB 1738 clarifies and expands eligibility for existing Washington state benefits for veterans, uniformed service members (including National Guard), and military spouses. It updates key definitions across multiple statutes to ensure veterans' service time counts toward public safety job seniority, creates hiring preferences for veterans, and expands business loan eligibility for service members facing revenue loss due to military duties. The bill directly affects those with qualifying military service or spouse status who seek state employment, public safety careers, or business financial assistance. These changes ensure consistent application of current benefit programs without creating new funding or programs.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates hiring preferences for veterans and ensures military service counts toward seniority, expanding employment opportunities for military personnel.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands veteran benefit eligibility, creates hiring preferences, and expands business loans for military service members - directly advancing veterans' access to benefits and opportunities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Military Families Veteran Benefits Veteran Employment

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1785: Imposing a surcharge on publicly traded companies providing excessive executive compensation.

HB 1785 imposes a surcharge on Washington-based publicly traded companies with CEO pay at least 50 times the median employee wage. The surcharge is 10% for ratios of 50-149:1 and 25% for ratios of 150:1 or higher, applied to state corporate taxes starting January 1, 2026. Companies must disclose their executive pay ratio to the SEC (per Dodd-Frank Act); failure to report triggers the 25% rate. All revenue from the surcharge funds the state general fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes new corporate tax surcharge on excessive pay ratios, directing revenue to state general fund, aligning with fiscal responsibility and public funding.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentTargets extreme CEO-worker pay gaps (50:1+), mandates disclosure, funds state general fund - directly advances wage equity and transparency in labor compensation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Fees & Licensing State Budget

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signed · Washington · House May 17, 2025

HB 1213: Expanding protections for workers in the state paid family and medical leave program.

HB 1213 expands protections for workers in Washington's state paid family and medical leave program. The bill requires the department to enhance outreach to employees, explaining their eligibility, application process, and reinstatement and nondiscrimination rights. It also mandates increased outreach to employers about their responsibilities and authorizes the department to audit employer records for compliance. Additionally, the bill clarifies premium collection and calculation methods, and ensures the confidentiality of employee information within the program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesClarifies premium collection methods for state paid leave program, ensuring proper fiscal management and program funding continuity.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands protections for workers in medical leave program, enhancing access to healthcare services through improved eligibility outreach and employer compliance enforcement.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly expands worker protections in paid leave program via enhanced outreach, employer compliance audits, and clarified premium rules, directly strengthening employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Insurance Paid Leave

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1057: Promoting economic development by increasing support for local communities to access federal funds.

HB 1057 creates a state fund to help Washington communities secure federal economic development grants by providing matching dollars. It directly affects local governments, rural areas, tribes, nonprofits, and businesses seeking federal funds for projects like broadband, housing, infrastructure, and workforce training. Key mechanisms include establishing scoring criteria prioritizing rural counties and job creation, setting grant tiers (up to 100% matching for most entities), and requiring the state to provide a template letter supporting federal applications. The bill mandates annual reporting on fund usage and expands online resources to track available federal opportunities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state fund to match federal grants, increasing state spending for economic development projects like broadband and housing.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates state fund to match federal grants for housing projects, directly enabling housing development funding as explicitly listed in summary.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds workforce training projects via state matching grants, prioritizing job creation in economic development initiatives.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly funds broadband projects via matching grants, directly expanding internet access for rural communities and tribes as a key project type.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill funds infrastructure projects via state matching grants, explicitly listing infrastructure as eligible for federal grant support alongside transportation-relevant areas like broadband and workforce training.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Community Development Property Development Workforce Development Broadband Access Tags Rural Communities

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