Labor & Employment

passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5061: Requiring certain wages in public works contracts to be at least the prevailing wage in effect when the work is performed.

Senate Bill 5061 changes how wages are determined for laborers, workers, and mechanics on public works projects in Washington state. It requires that the hourly minimum wage paid on these contracts must be adjusted to the prevailing rate of wage in effect at the time the work is performed. This means wages will no longer be frozen at the rate from when project bids were submitted, but will update according to current prevailing wage adjustments published by the Department of Labor and Industries. The bill aims to ensure fair labor standards for workers throughout the duration of public construction projects.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires public works wages to update to current prevailing rates, preventing wage stagnation and protecting worker compensation under Labor & Employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1387: Concerning the prevailing wages on public works.

HB 1387 changes how prevailing wages are set for public construction projects in Washington. It requires the state to use existing collective bargaining agreement rates for unionized trades until May 31, 2027, and then adopt the rate covering the majority of workers (or the most workers if no majority exists) for most trades starting June 1, 2027. Shipbuilding and ship repair trades will use the highest available collective bargaining rate in a county for all contracts after 2027. This directly affects public works contractors and unionized construction workers, ensuring wage rates align with actual union agreements rather than wage surveys in most cases.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates use of collective bargaining rates for unionized trades until 2027, preserving union wage standards and supporting worker bargaining power.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Labor Standards

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5293: Concerning the prevailing wages on public works.

SB 5293 updates Washington's public works wage rules for construction projects. Until May 2027, it requires using the highest wage from union contracts in a county. After June 2027, it mandates adopting the wage rate covering the majority of workers in a trade (or the most common rate if no majority exists), with an appeal process for disputes. Shipbuilding and ship repair maintain a separate rule using the highest union rate. The bill directly affects construction workers and contractors on state-funded public projects.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires highest union wage rates for public works construction, protecting worker pay and supporting collective bargaining standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Labor Standards

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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

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

signed · Washington · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 5525: Concerning employment loss due to businesses closing or mass layoffs.

Senate Bill 5525 establishes requirements for employers in Washington state regarding business closings and mass layoffs. It mandates that employers with 50 or more employees provide 60 days' written notice to the Employment Security Department and affected employees, or their bargaining representatives, before such events. This applies to business closings or mass layoffs that result in employment loss for 50 or more employees, excluding part-time staff. The notice must include specific details, such as the expected date of employment loss and affected job titles, with certain exceptions for unforeseeable business circumstances or natural disasters.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates 60-day notice for mass layoffs, protecting workers' rights by providing advance warning of employment loss to affected employees and the Employment Security Department.95% confidence

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5562: Concerning students attending approved apprenticeship programs.

This bill allows students enrolled in approved apprenticeship programs to access the same state financial aid (Washington College Grant) as community college students, covering tuition and fees at the two-year public college rate starting in 2022-23. It requires colleges to establish policies for awarding college credits toward degrees for classroom-based "related supplemental instruction" in apprenticeships, with credits needing approval within one year of program registration. By July 2026, colleges must implement statewide systems to transfer these credits across institutions, ensuring apprenticeship coursework counts toward degrees. The policy directly affects apprenticeship program students and public/private colleges in Washington.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill expands state financial aid (Washington College Grant) to apprenticeship students, increasing state spending on education as a public service.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands state financial aid access for apprenticeship students and enables college credit recognition, enhancing educational access and funding for higher education pathways.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEnables apprenticeship students to access financial aid for education, supporting workforce development and employment pathways through expanded training access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Higher Education Student Financial Aid Apprenticeships Workforce Development

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signed · Washington · House May 17, 2025

HB 1162: Concerning workplace violence in health care settings.

HB 1162 requires all health care settings in Washington to develop and implement a comprehensive workplace violence prevention plan to protect their employees. These plans must address factors such as physical security, staffing patterns, employee training, and procedures for reporting violent acts. The bill mandates annual reviews and updates of these plans and requires health care settings to conduct timely investigations into every workplace violence incident. Findings from these investigations, along with incident data, must be regularly summarized and submitted to a relevant workplace committee to identify systemic causes and recommend plan modifications.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates workplace violence prevention plans for healthcare settings, directly protecting medical professionals and supporting healthcare service delivery as defined in the topic.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires healthcare safety plans, training, and investigations to protect employees from workplace violence, directly improving workplace safety protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workplace Safety

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5539: Expanding protections for workers in the state paid family and medical leave program.

SB 5539 updates Washington’s state paid family and medical leave program to improve benefit accuracy and accessibility. It adjusts maximum weekly benefits to 90% of the state average weekly wage (starting at $1,000), clarifies that postnatal leave must be designated as medical leave unless workers choose family leave, and extends maximum leave duration to 18 weeks for pregnancy-related health conditions. The bill requires employers to provide written rights statements and ensures outreach materials are available in multiple languages, directly affecting all workers enrolled in the state’s paid leave program. These changes refine existing benefit calculations and administrative procedures without expanding eligibility.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends medical leave for pregnancy-related health conditions, ensuring access to healthcare services without income loss and clarifies medical leave designations.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands paid leave benefits, increases weekly max to 90% wage, extends leave duration, clarifies medical leave - strengthens worker protections under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Paid Leave Workers' Compensation

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1773: Creating a wage replacement program for certain Washington workers excluded from unemployment insurance.

HB 1773 creates a state-administered wage replacement program for Washington workers excluded from traditional unemployment insurance, such as gig workers, domestic workers, and others not covered by standard UI. It directly affects eligible residents who meet specific Washington residency requirements (e.g., utility bills, school enrollment, or state ID) and experienced job loss. Key provisions include establishing a dedicated wage replacement account for funding payments, requiring the state to contract a third-party administrator to process applications and disburse funds, and forming an advisory committee with worker, immigrant, and employer representation. The program aims to provide financial support during unemployment for this excluded group, with implementation required by July 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state-funded wage replacement program with dedicated account, increasing state spending on worker benefits for excluded groups.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates state wage replacement for excluded workers (gig/domestic), expanding unemployment benefits coverage and protecting worker income during job loss.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Unemployment

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5381: Establishing department authority to ensure payment is received from the self-insured employer after a self-insured group or municipal employer has their self-insurer certification withdrawn.

SB 5381 requires the Washington Department of Labor & Industries to pay workers' compensation claims when a self-insured employer (like a business or city/municipal government) loses its certification. This applies specifically to employers whose self-insurer status is terminated by the department. The bill mandates that these former self-insurers must reimburse the department for all payments made, including compensation to injured workers, through quarterly payments. It also directs the department to create rules for managing these reimbursements and the ongoing financial obligations of decertified employers.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEnsures workers' compensation payments continue when self-insurer certification is withdrawn, protecting worker benefits and mandating reimbursement from former self-insurers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Professional Licensing Workers' Compensation

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