Labor & Employment (Unemployment)

signed · Washington · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 2264: Concerning unemployment insurance benefits for workers separated from employment as a result of employer-initiated layoffs or workforce reductions.

HB 2264 changes unemployment insurance eligibility for workers laid off due to employer-initiated workforce reductions. It allows workers who voluntarily offer to be included in a layoff after their employer provides written notice of planned reductions (including an option for employees to join the layoff) to qualify for benefits as if laid off through no fault of their own. Employers must formally announce layoff plans in writing, and workers may later withdraw their offer without losing eligibility. The bill does not apply when employers encourage early retirement or separation without following these specific procedures.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands unemployment benefits eligibility by allowing voluntary layoff participation, treating employer-initiated layoffs as no-fault separation, strengthening worker protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 26, 2026

SB 6152: Including physical and occupational therapists as attending providers for workers' compensation.

SB 6152 adds physical therapists and occupational therapists to the list of authorized "attending providers" for workers' compensation claims in Washington State. This means injured workers can now choose these therapists for treatment, and employers/insurers must cover their services as part of approved care. The bill amends specific statutes (RCW 51.08.200, 51.28.010, and 51.28.020) to include these professions in the definition of eligible providers, alongside existing options like physicians and chiropractors. It directly affects injured workers seeking treatment, insurers processing claims, and healthcare providers who can now bill under workers' compensation. The change expands provider choice without altering benefit eligibility or compensation amounts.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands healthcare access by mandating insurer coverage for PT/OT services under workers' comp, improving patient treatment options95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands workers' compensation benefits by adding PT/OT providers, increasing access to care for injured workers and strengthening benefit protections under employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment Workers' Compensation

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signed · Washington · Senate Mar 14, 2026

SB 5874: Concerning employers' information reporting for purposes of unemployment compensation.

Washington State's SB 5874 modifies penalties for employers who fail to properly report unemployment compensation information. It establishes a $25 penalty for late filings, with warning letters for first-time incomplete reports, followed by escalating fines ($75, $150, $250) for repeated errors within five years. Employers may avoid penalties for minor mistakes like software errors causing missing job titles, but intentional misreporting of payroll could lead to fines up to 10 times the underpaid amount. The bill directly affects Washington employers required to submit quarterly unemployment tax reports.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEnsures accurate unemployment tax collection via penalties, securing state budget revenue from employer contributions without altering tax rates.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEnforces accurate employer reporting for unemployment benefits, ensuring workers receive full compensation and protecting their rights under employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

signed · Washington · Senate May 19, 2025

SB 5041: Concerning unemployment insurance benefits for striking or lockout workers.

Senate Bill 5041 revises the eligibility rules for unemployment insurance benefits in Washington state for workers involved in labor disputes. The bill removes the disqualification for benefits for individuals whose unemployment is caused by an employer lockout. For workers unemployed due to a strike, the disqualification period now ends on the second Sunday after the strike begins, or when the strike terminates, whichever occurs first. However, benefits received due to a strike are capped at six calendar weeks, and the employer is notified of available mediation services.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill removes disqualification for lockout workers and shortens strike disqualification period, expanding unemployment benefits access for workers in labor disputes, protecting their rights during strikes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Unemployment

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5396: Supporting the continued employment of pilots applying for federal aviation administration medical certificates.

The provided bill text does not match the title "Supporting the continued employment of pilots applying for federal aviation administration medical certificates." The actual text is a comprehensive amendment to Washington State's employment security definitions (RCW 50A.05.010 and 50A.15.060), focusing on clarifying terms like "casual labor," "employee," "employer," and "employment" for unemployment insurance purposes. It contains no provisions related to pilots, FAA medical certificates, or aviation employment. The title appears to be incorrect or mislabeled based on the provided text. Without accurate bill content matching the title, a summary of the pilot-related provisions cannot be generated.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentClarifies unemployment insurance definitions (RCW 50A.05.010/50A.15.060) to improve benefit access for workers, aligning with labor protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5626: Creating a wage replacement program for certain Washington workers excluded from unemployment insurance.

SB 5626 creates a wage replacement program in Washington State for workers excluded from standard unemployment insurance, such as independent contractors, gig workers, and others not covered by traditional UI. It establishes a state-managed fund to provide weekly payments to eligible applicants who meet residency requirements (verified through documents like utility bills, school records, or Washington ID) and experience job loss. The program will be administered by a third-party contractor selected by the Employment Security Department, with outreach to potential applicants through community organizations. The bill is pending in the Senate Ways & Means Committee after a public hearing, with implementation required by July 2026.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates wage replacement for excluded workers (gig, contractors), expanding unemployment benefits and protecting income during job loss, directly advancing labor protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Unemployment

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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

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1463: Expanding time limit exemptions applicable to cash assistance programs.

HB 1463 expands exemptions allowing families to continue receiving Washington's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash aid beyond the standard 60-month time limit. It directly affects low-income households nearing or exceeding this limit due to specific hardships. Key provisions add new exemption criteria, including homelessness (per federal McKinney-Vento Act), periods when Washington's unemployment rate was 7% or higher (starting March 2020), family violence, and having a child under age two requiring infant/toddler care. The bill requires recipients to have already received 52 months of aid before qualifying for these extensions, ensuring exemptions apply only to those with significant, documented hardship.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingExpands TANF exemptions for homelessness (McKinney-Vento Act), directly addressing housing instability for low-income families facing homelessness.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands TANF exemptions for hardships including high unemployment (7%+ since March 2020), homelessness, and family violence, supporting low-income families during employment-related hardships.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness Unemployment

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1843: Concerning students' eligibility to receive unemployment insurance benefits.

HB 1843 repeals a state law that previously disqualified students attending school or higher education from receiving unemployment insurance benefits. This change directly affects students who are enrolled in educational programs and seeking unemployment benefits due to job loss. The bill removes the barrier that prevented these students from qualifying for benefits solely based on their enrollment status. As a result, students meeting other eligibility criteria (like recent work history) would no longer be automatically disqualified for attending school. The bill passed the House committee with majority support in February 2025.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRepeals disqualification of students from unemployment benefits, expanding access to a vulnerable workforce group under employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1682: Concerning part-time workers in the unemployment insurance system.

This bill changes Washington's unemployment insurance rules for part-time workers, effective August 3, 2025. It revises the definition of "suitable work" for part-time workers (those who earned wages in at least 40 base-year weeks with an average of under 35 weekly hours) to require them to seek work matching their historical average hours, rather than the previous 17-hour limit. It also adds protections: workers needing to care for family members or address domestic violence/stalking may not lose benefits for seeking at least 20-hour workweeks instead of full-time. The policy directly affects part-time workers who qualify under these new base-year criteria.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRevises unemployment rules to match part-timers' historical hours and adds family/domestic violence protections, strengthening worker eligibility and safety.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Labor Standards Unemployment

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