Labor & Employment (Retirement Benefits) in Washington

in committee · Washington · House Jan 13, 2026

HB 2414: Concerning membership of wildland or aviation firefighters in the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system.

HB 2414 would expand Washington's law enforcement and firefighters' retirement system to include wildland and aviation firefighters employed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The bill explicitly adds DNR as an eligible employer for these firefighters, clarifying that those meeting National Wildfire Coordinating Group qualifications can join the system. This directly affects DNR wildland and aviation firefighters who were previously excluded from the retirement plan. The bill amends existing law (RCW 41.26.030) to define eligibility, without changing benefit calculations or funding mechanisms.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits

in committee · Washington · House Jan 19, 2026

HB 2561: Including standby pay as basic salary in the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system plan 2.

HB 2561 amends Washington's retirement law to include standby pay as part of the "basic salary" used to calculate retirement benefits for law enforcement officers and firefighters enrolled in Plan 2. Specifically, it requires that compensation received while in "standby status" (paid time when not working but required to be available for immediate duty) be counted toward retirement benefits, alongside regular wages. This change directly affects current and future Plan 2 members in these professions, ensuring their retirement income reflects all earned compensation during standby periods. The bill explicitly excludes vacation pay, sick leave, and severance from this calculation. It does not alter existing retirement benefit formulas but clarifies which compensation types are included in the base salary calculation.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits

signed · Washington · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 2179: Concerning membership in the public employees' retirement system for port workers who participate in a federal railroad retirement plan, a union-sponsored defined benefit retirement plan, or another employer-funded private pension plan. (REVISED FOR ENGROSSED: Concerning membership in the public employees' retirement system for port workers who participate in a federal railroad retirement plan.)

HB 2179 allows port workers already enrolled in federal railroad retirement plans, union-sponsored defined benefit retirement plans, or private employer pension plans to join Washington's public employees' retirement system. It removes an existing exclusion in the law that previously prevented these workers from participating in the state retirement system. The bill specifically amends RCW 41.40.023 to clarify that port workers covered by these alternative plans are not barred from public retirement membership. This change ensures port workers can access the state retirement system without losing benefits from their current retirement arrangements.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Retirement Benefits

passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5835: Concerning the threshold for payment of a lump sum retirement allowance in lieu of a monthly benefit.

SB 5835 raises the threshold for receiving a lump sum retirement payment (instead of monthly benefits) from $50 to $250 annually adjusted. It applies to Washington state public employees and beneficiaries whose calculated monthly retirement benefit would be below this new threshold. The bill requires the lump sum to be the greater of the actuarial equivalent of future monthly payments or the member's accumulated contributions plus interest. It also includes specific rules for converting from monthly to lump sum payments and for reinstating retirement service if a member returns to work. This change affects retirees and beneficiaries under Washington's public retirement systems (41.40, 41.32, 41.35, and 41.37).

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits

passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5905: Concerning membership in the public employees' retirement system for port workers who participate in a federal railroad retirement plan, a union-sponsored defined benefit retirement plan, or another employer-funded private pension plan.

SB 5905 amends Washington state law to ensure port workers who participate in federal railroad retirement plans, union-sponsored defined benefit plans, or private employer-funded pension plans are not excluded from the state's public employees' retirement system. The bill specifically modifies RCW 41.40.023 to clarify that such port workers retain eligibility for membership in the state retirement system, removing a previous barrier based on their existing retirement plan participation. This change directly affects port workers employed in Washington who already have alternative retirement coverage. The policy adjustment ensures port workers can access the state retirement system without being denied membership solely due to their prior enrollment in other qualified retirement plans.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Retirement Benefits

signed · Washington · House Apr 16, 2025

HB 1156: Concerning volunteer firefighter participation in the state deferred compensation program.

House Bill 1156 allows volunteer firefighters to participate in the state's deferred compensation program. It amends existing law (RCW 41.50.770) to include specific volunteer firefighter participants in the definition of "employee" for the purposes of this program. This change enables these firefighters to defer a portion of their income into a state-sponsored retirement savings plan, offering various investment options.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5044: Allowing collective bargaining over contributions for certain supplemental retirement benefits.

SB 5044 allows public employers in Washington to negotiate with employee unions over contributions for supplemental retirement benefits (such as medical plans) that are administered by or on behalf of employee organizations. This bill amends state law to explicitly permit bargaining on contribution levels for these supplemental benefits, while still keeping core retirement plans and benefits administered by the Department of Retirement Systems off-limits to negotiation. The change directly affects public employees covered under Washington's retirement systems who participate in supplemental benefit programs. The policy shift clarifies that contributions for these specific supplemental benefits - distinct from basic pension plans - are subject to collective bargaining.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Retirement Benefits

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1790: Increasing defined benefit accrual for specified years of service in the state retirement systems.

HB 1790 increases retirement benefits for Washington state employees in multiple retirement systems (including those for public employees, teachers, and law enforcement). It adds an extra 0.5% of an employee's average final salary per year for service beyond 30 years, effective for future service. This applies specifically to employees who reach 30+ years of service after the bill takes effect. The change modifies existing retirement formulas in statutes covering various state retirement plans (RCW 41.32.760, 41.32.840, 41.35.400, 41.35.620, 41.40.620, and 41.40.790).

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Pensions Public Employees Retirement Benefits

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5114: Paying state retirement benefits until the end of the month in which the retiree or beneficiary dies.

SB 5114 changes Washington state retirement benefit payments to cover the entire month when a retiree or beneficiary dies, rather than stopping at the date of death. Under current rules, estates often had to repay benefits received after the death date within the same month (e.g., if someone died on the 25th, they might repay for the last 5 days). The bill requires the Department of Retirement Systems to pay benefits through the end of the death month, with survivor benefits beginning the first day of the next month. This change applies prospectively from January 1, 2026, and does not affect past repayments.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1477: Concerning the Washington saves administrative trust account.

HB 1477 establishes a dedicated administrative trust account to cover the operational costs of Washington Saves, the state's automatic retirement savings program for eligible workers. The account, managed by the state treasurer, funds program administration (like staff and technology) but cannot pay employee benefits. It affects small businesses with 10,400+ combined employee hours annually that don’t offer retirement plans to long-term staff (called "covered employers"). Key rules include using only state/federal grants or interest earnings for admin costs, requiring director approval for spending, and prohibiting commingling with employee savings.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits

All labor & employment bills