Skip to content

2025 Legislation of Note

Legislation of Note

EMPLOYMENT LAW

Lindsey Hueer, AWB’s lead on employment law issues, is tracking these bills:

  • UI for striking workers: Senate Bill 5041, which would extend unemployment insurance payments to striking workers, has a hearing this week in the House. The bill already passed the Senate earlier this month. AWB continues to oppose this bill, which would disrupt the balance between employees and employers at the bargaining table and increase UI premiums. Register your opposition to the bill during the hearing at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in the House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee.

  • Self-insured employers/workers’ comp: Senate Bill 5463 would require employers with self-insured workers’ compensation programs to adhere to the good faith and fair dealing standard. State law already functionally requires them to do that with Department of Labor and Industries' broad existing oversight. The primary concern is the increased potential for decertification of a self-insured employer. Even if employers continue to act in good faith, the potential increase will likely cause cost increases in the re-insurance market, resulting in unnecessary substantial cost increases for our state’s large employers.

  • Safety and health of working minors: House Bill 1644 would increase penalties for violations relating to the employment of minors. AWB strongly supports workplace safety for working minors, but has concerns about how the bill would be implemented. The bill would add a large amount of additional regulation and burden on employers seeking to hire 16- and 17-year-olds, to such a level that we expect many employers would simply stop hiring minors. This is especially problematic for many of the critical construction trades programs that provide valuable on-the-job training to high school students to prepare them for a career in the trades.

__________

WORKFORCE

Emily Wittman, AWB’s lead on workforce, is engaging on this bill and others:

  • Local journalism grants: Senate Bill 5400 would establish the Washington Local News Sustainability Program to provide grants to local journalists. The funding source has changed from the original bill; instead of diverting funds from workforce education, the bill now proposes a B&O tax surcharge on certain technology companies. AWB continues to opposes this bill. While we support local journalism, we oppose adding new taxes on employers to fund this program. The bill has a hearing at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

__________

ENERGY

Peter Godlewski, AWB’s specialist for energy, environment and water legislation, is watching a number of bills, including:

  • Climate Commitment Act: AWB was pleased to see House Bill 1975 pass by a bipartisan vote of 84-11 in the House. The bill, which would move the state’s Climate Commitment Act in a positive direction, is now in the Senate. It makes important changes to Washington’s carbon auctions to help manage prices. AWB will testify in support at a hearing at 8 a.m. Wednesday in the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee.

  • Clean fuels: AWB opposes House Bill 1409, which would update the state’s clean fuels program with a high stringency that would increase costs for drivers. Not only would this hit anyone who buys gasoline, it would also increase shipping costs, which would raise the costs of goods for employers and consumers.

  • Clean building standard: AWB supports House Bill 1543, which would provide additional compliance pathways for the state’s clean building standard. It would give more time, resources and flexibility for meeting the standards of the bill. The clean building standard is a major cost driver; this bill would be a helpful change.

  • Lead cookware: AWB supports Senate Bill 5628, which would make important and practical changes to the state’s legislation about lead in cookware to accommodate appliances and other items used in the kitchen. We are glad to see this bill find a path forward to address issues created by the existing lead cookware program.

__________

Morgan Irwin, AWB’s expert on land use and housing policy, is engaging with a number of bills, including:

HOUSING

  • Rent control: House Bill 1217 was approved by the House and is now in the Senate. Lawmakers made several changes to the bill, but AWB continues to oppose it, as it still includes a 7% cap on annual rent increases. AWB will testify against the bill in a hearing at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Senate Housing Committee.

Scroll To Top