Labor & Employment (Labor Standards)

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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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1181: Concerning labor standards and the Washington minimum wage act.

HB 1181 clarifies who is covered by Washington's minimum wage law by updating definitions in the Washington Minimum Wage Act. It adds specific exclusions, such as farm interns with special certificates and minor league baseball players under collective bargaining agreements, while refining definitions for terms like "family member" and "retail establishment." These changes directly affect employers and workers in defined categories, ensuring the law applies only to eligible employees. The bill does not change the current minimum wage rate but refines coverage to align with evolving workplace structures.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentAdds exclusions (e.g., minor league players under collective bargaining) from minimum wage coverage, restricting protections for specific worker categories.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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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 · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5487: Authorizing agricultural employers to select 12 weeks a year to employ workers for up to 50 hours a week before overtime applies.

SB 5487 modifies Washington's overtime law to allow agricultural employers to select 12 weeks per year during which workers may work up to 50 hours weekly without triggering overtime pay. This directly affects agricultural workers and employers by creating a seasonal exemption from the standard 40-hour overtime rule, specifically addressing the time-sensitive labor needs of crop harvesting and planting seasons. The bill aims to help farms manage peak labor demands without reducing worker hours or earnings, as seen in California's similar overtime policy. It amends RCW 49.46.130 to add this temporary exemption while maintaining overtime protections for most workweeks.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill allows agricultural employers to avoid overtime pay for 50-hour weeks during 12 weeks annually, weakening standard wage protections for workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5578: Concerning labor standards.

SB 5578 updates Washington's labor standards by clarifying who qualifies as an "employee" for wage and leave protections, directly affecting most workers while maintaining specific exemptions. Key provisions include requiring paid vacation leave for exempt employees (like managers and professionals) under new accrual rules, expanding the definition of "family member" for leave purposes, and adding new exclusions for certain agricultural, domestic, and volunteer roles. The bill amends existing labor codes to strengthen coverage for workers not currently protected under current definitions, such as those in executive or professional roles. It does not change basic overtime rules but ensures consistent paid leave standards across more job categories.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAdds paid vacation for exempt employees, expands family leave definition, strengthens wage/leave protections for most workers per bill summary.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Paid Leave

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