Transcript Highlights:

• The first is creating the wage recovery program and the wage recovery account.
• All civil penalties collected under the wage complaints and under the Minimum Wage Act must be deposited
• That wage recovery fund would be funded through penalty collection and wage recovery by the department
• It includes an inflationary increase in penalty minimums, which have not been increased for 15 years.
• This was a good approach at quickly getting unpaid wages to workers and increasing penalties.

Bills: HB2479, HB2091, HB2105, HB2107, HB2151, HB2190, HB2191, HB2218, HB2243, HB2303, HB2345

Keywords: unpaid wages, wage theft, wage recovery, labor standards, Department of Labor and Industries, L&I, worker protection, low-wage workers, back pay, interest on wages, civil penalties, retaliation, immigration status coercion, gig workers, transportation network companies, rideshare drivers, app-based drivers, employment law, wage complaint, payroll enforcement

Summary: The Labor and Workplace Standards Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2479, the Wage Recovery Act. Staff explained that the bill would create a wage recovery program and account to provide limited advance payments to low-wage workers facing immediate economic harm from unpaid wages, while also giving the Department of Labor and Industries more discretion to prioritize wage complaints and changing civil penalty rules for willful violations. Representative Fosse and several testifiers from labor, business, and legal groups described the bill as a bipartisan, consensus product of the Wage Recovery Work Group and said it would help workers recover wages faster while targeting repeat violators. No one testified in opposition, and the hearing was closed without questions from members. The committee then moved into executive session and took action on several bills. It reported House Bill 291, 2105, 2107, 2151, 2190, 2303, and 2345 out of committee with due pass recommendations, and deferred action on 2191 and 2218. House Bill 2105, concerning employer notice of federal I-9 audits and related worker-record access, was amended with a technical correction and a revised penalty amendment before passing 6-3. House Bill 2151, on factory-built housing and commercial structures, was amended to exempt certain prefabricated enclosures for utility energy equipment. House Bill 2303, prohibiting employer requests for microchip implantation, was amended to remove administrative enforcement and passed 6-3. House Bill 2345, which adjusts paid family and medical leave premium allocations in response to IRS guidance, passed unanimously after members described it as a technical fix to avoid a potential federal tax liability. Other bills passed without substantive controversy: House Bill 291 on employee contact information for bargaining representatives, House Bill 2107 on notifying employers of construction hazards, and House Bill 2190 on paying language access providers for missed appointments. The committee also heard briefings on proposed substitutes and amendments for the remaining bills before voting, and adjourned after completing its executive session actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> That means cities with prevailing wage That means cities with prevailing wage ordinances<00:15:22.360
• </c> projects with prevailing wage projects with prevailing wage requirements.<00:17:11.120><c> So,</
• </c> their own local prevailing wage their own local prevailing wage ordinances<00:21:23.760><c> or</
• </c><00:21:29.480><c> ordinances,</c> own prevailing wage ordinances, own prevailing wage ordinances,
• </c> increase MFCU staff from 32 to 50. increase MFCU staff from 32 to 50.

Bills: HF4364, HF4821, HF4543, HF3945

Keywords: Central and Eastern European Affairs, ethnic council, advisory council, Minnesota state government, immigrant communities, refugees, humanitarian parolees, Ukraine, Poland, Croatia, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Czech Republic, Baltic states, Slovakia, Slovenia, Kosovo, Russia

Transcript Highlights:

• The department took a 4.9% proposed increase and then adopted a 4.9% increase.
• Senate Bill 6058 relates to wage enforcement discretion.
• disability and increases cost.
• It assumes that the duration and pension frequency would increase by 1.3% and estimates the total increase
• Now, you might think because our state has a high wage income, well, California has higher wages, but

Bills: SB5847, SB6067, SB6136, SB6014, SB5972, SB5869, SB5874, SB6058, SB6039, SB5944, SB6188

Keywords: workers' compensation, industrial insurance, injured workers, medical provider network, occupational health, occupational medicine, medical care access, L&I, Department of Labor and Industries, self-insured employers, state fund claims, utilization review, provider credentialing, provider network, treatment guidelines, evidence-based medicine, claims management, claims managers, temporary total disability, permanent partial disability

Summary: The committee opened with a public hearing on Senate Bill 6136, which would require L&I to publish actuarial indicated workers’ compensation rates for each risk class and disclose when rate increases are capped below those indicated levels. The sponsor and business groups said the bill would improve transparency about how reserves and investment earnings are used to hold down rates, while L&I said the information is already developed internally and the bill would mainly require publication. The bill drew broad pro testimony from hospitality, retail, business, and construction groups; no one testified in opposition. The committee then moved into executive session on several bills, adopting substitutes and passing multiple measures, including SB 5292, 6014, 5972, 5869, 5874, 6058, 6039, 5944, and 6180, with most sent to Rules and SB 5292 sent to Ways and Means. The committee then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 5847, which would expand injured workers’ access to medical care by allowing treatment outside the medical provider network in certain circumstances, limiting employer steering, requiring faster utilization review, and allowing providers to deviate from L&I treatment guidelines when medically appropriate. Supporters, including labor representatives, injured-worker attorneys, and construction workers, argued the bill would reduce delays, restore individualized medical decision-making, and better reflect the Murray decision. L&I said it supports reducing delays but warned the bill would make major, untested changes to the medical provider network and treatment-guideline system. Business and self-insured employer groups opposed the bill, saying the current guidelines preserve balance, and raising concerns about vague language, penalties, and the 15-mile provider rule. The sponsor said the bill was intended to improve access and medical independence, and public testimony was then closed. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 6067, which would change workers’ compensation time-loss benefits so the employer-paid health insurance portion is covered at 100% rather than the current 60% to 75% level. The sponsor and labor witnesses said injured workers should not lose health coverage because of a workplace injury and argued the bill would help families maintain care and encourage kept-on-salary or light-duty options. Opponents from self-insured employers, NFIB, and retail groups said the bill does not guarantee the added benefit will actually be used for health insurance, could be diverted to attorney fees, and would significantly increase costs and rate pressure. L&I said the bill would require IT changes and estimated substantial ongoing benefit costs, while the sponsor and supporters said the policy would better protect injured workers’ health and financial stability. The chair closed public testimony after the final panel and ended the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've increased the time. Thank you. Take your leisurely time.
• And there's also the Wage Recovery Task Force, which is working in this space as well.
• ..but again, there is the Wage Recovery Task Force, which I think...
• contractors or increasing construction costs.
• Also, you know, how many of these unpaid wage claims are coming from...

Bills: HB2144, HB2190, HB2191, HB2303, HB2345

Keywords: employee monitoring, workplace privacy, performance evaluations, notification, transparency, language access, collective bargaining, providers, healthcare, interpreters, social services, construction, wage theft, misclassification, independent contractor, employee classification, fringe benefits, prevailing wages, subcontractor liability, joint and several liability

Summary: The Labor and Workplace Standards Committee heard testimony on several bills. House Bill 2303 would prohibit employers from requesting or coercing employees to receive microchip implants, with enforcement through L&I complaints, civil penalties, and private lawsuits; Rep. Thomas said it would prevent a practice not currently used in Washington. House Bill 2144 would require employers to give written notice before using electronic monitoring for employee performance evaluations, with L&I penalties and a private right of action; supporters said workers should know how they are monitored, while business, local government, trucking, retail, banking, and law enforcement representatives raised concerns about broad definitions, safety/security uses, and litigation exposure. House Bill 2190 would allow language access providers to bargain over compensation for missed or canceled appointments; interpreters and labor supporters said the bill would make bargaining fairer and help retain interpreters, while no opposition testimony was recorded in the excerpt. The committee also heard House Bill 2345, a proposed substitute adjusting the employer/employee premium split for the state paid family and medical leave program to comply with IRS guidance and avoid federal tax treatment of benefits. The sponsor and supporters said the change is technical, intended to keep workers and employers harmless and avoid about $30 million in federal taxes, while some business and school district witnesses supported the goal but worried about preserving the current balance and the impact on employer costs. The hearing on 2345 was then closed. House Bill 2191, concerning liability for unpaid wages in the construction industry, drew extensive testimony. Supporters, including workers, unions, some contractors, the Attorney General’s office, and minority builders, said wage theft is real, that upstream liability would improve accountability and help workers get paid, and that responsible contractors should not be undercut by bad actors. Opponents from contractor, business, city, trucking, and minority contractor groups argued the bill is too broad, could raise costs, discourage small subcontractors, create double liability for general contractors and property owners, and should be narrowed with safe harbors or right-to-cure provisions. Members asked about enforcement, alternative remedies, and comparisons to Oregon law; L&I said it has some existing tools but limited ability when firms go out of business. The committee closed the hearing on HB 2191 and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we're always subject to whether they want to increase or decrease or not fund at all.
• So, when you do that, you're increasing the efficiency, you're hopefully lowering that electric bill
• So, when you do that, you're<00:13:36.800><c> increasing</c><00:13:37.440><c> the</c><00:13:37.560><c
• > efficiency,</c><00:13:38.640><c> you're</c> you're increasing the efficiency, you're you're increasing
• would like that information back if it could be sent to him on the increases.

Bills: SB8

Keywords: utilities, public service commission, energy regulation, appointment, emergency declaration, tax increases, consumer protection, The first couple minutes of the livestream was cut off. This recording restored the beginning of the meeting Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:51 Approval of Minutes 00:02:07 Legislator Comments 00:02:18 LIHEAP Public Hearing 00:04:19 PSC Update on RS 26 SB 8 00:32:18 WaterStep Presentation 01:04:08, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• collection of repayments and must pursue repayment, using the fullest extent of the law, including wage
• A lot of times they move back and forth, and we can make sure that we are increasing our readiness here
• in Washington state, and we can also make sure that we are increasing our support for service members
• We look forward to supporting efforts to effect changes that can increase the nursing workforce while
• We understand the Legislature's intent to reduce burden, increase ease of administration, and increase

Bills: HB2498, HB2443, HB2567, HB2363, HB2422

Keywords: nursing education, nursing program standards, board of nursing, state board, national accreditation, accreditation body, nursing school, nurse educator, clinical simulation, simulation director, lead nurse educator, NCLEX, licensure exam pass rate, corrective action plan, technical assistance, higher education, program approval, Washington RCW, professional development, nursing licensure

Summary: The committee held courtesy hearings on three bills before moving to executive action on two unrelated measures. House Bill 2443 would create an Armed Forces Reserve post-secondary education grant. Staff explained the bill as written would apply to Army Reserve members and their spouses/dependents, with eligibility tied to Washington domicile or stationing, enrollment in an in-state postsecondary program, and a service obligation or repayment requirement. Rep. DeFoe said the intent was to extend educational support to reservists similar to benefits already available to Washington National Guard members. A reserve ambassador testified in support, emphasizing the role of reserve components in state and national security and disaster response. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. House Bill 2567 would restore Washington College Grant and College Bound Scholarship award levels for students attending four-year private, not-for-profit institutions. The sponsor, Rep. Street, said the Legislature had made a budget-driven cut last session and should reinstate the aid as soon as possible. Students and representatives from private colleges testified that the cuts would reduce access, increase debt, and disproportionately harm low-income, first-generation, and students of color; supporters also argued the aid helps students stay in Washington and supports workforce needs, including health care. Public university faculty and some others opposed the bill, arguing state funds should prioritize public institutions and that public higher education has also faced cuts. The committee heard extensive testimony but took no action on the bill in the hearing. House Bill 2498 would change nursing education standards by limiting the Board of Nursing’s authority where programs are nationally accredited, requiring technical assistance for low NCLEX pass rates, and expediting approval for certain programs. The sponsor said the bill was intended to reduce barriers, address perceived overreach by the board, and improve diversity and workforce supply in nursing. Community college leaders and some nursing educators supported the bill, saying current rules create unnecessary delays and hinder expansion, especially in rural areas. The Board of Nursing, nursing education groups, hospitals, clinical placement organizations, and other nurses opposed it, arguing state oversight is needed for patient safety, local workforce needs, and consistent standards; several said the board is already revising its rules through the existing WAC process. After the public hearings, the committee went into executive session and passed Substitute House Bill 2363 and Substitute House Bill 2422 out of committee with do-pass recommendations, each after adopting amendments that delayed implementation dates. The vote on 2422 was 9-7, with one excused member.

Transcript Highlights:

• a result of increased claims, us changing the benefit levels, what's driving that?
• The tax and the payouts have seen considerable increases in this program shortly.
• Usage among the bottom wage quintile was just 8% of all claims in fiscal year 2025.
• Yeah, it was not my idea to fool around with the rate increase.
• And both municipal jails make 20 to 25% less in wages and benefits.

Bills: SB6014, SB5972, SB5869, SB5874

Keywords: pregnancy accommodations, pregnant workers, workplace accommodations, reasonable accommodation, undue hardship, lactation, breastfeeding, express milk, maternity leave, childbirth, pregnancy discrimination, employment law, labor and industries, L&I, confidential records, public records exemption, health care certification, workplace standards, employee rights, employer obligations

Summary: The Labor and Commerce Committee opened its first meeting of the 2026 session with member introductions and a brief overview of committee procedures, including the schedule for future meetings and the expectation that members attend in person when possible. The committee then received an informational presentation from the Employment Security Department on its structure and major programs, including paid family and medical leave, WA Cares, unemployment insurance, workforce services, and agricultural workforce services. Members asked about program eligibility, fraud prevention, call-center capacity, and the solvency of the unemployment trust fund; ESD said WA Cares is in a limited pilot phase, the UI trust fund currently covers about seven months of benefits, and the department would follow up with more detailed information on several issues. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5292, which would replace the current paid family and medical leave rate-setting formula with a forward-looking actuarial model and a four-month reserve target beginning in 2030. Supporters, including labor and employer representatives, said the bill would improve stability and align rates with projected costs, while opponents argued it would lead to higher payroll taxes and questioned the program’s growth and affordability. The sponsor said the bill was intended to stabilize funding and keep the measure narrow, and the hearing closed without a vote. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6014 on pregnancy-related accommodations, which would clarify that employers may not require a doctor’s note for certain basic accommodations and would create a public records exemption for sensitive complaint and investigation records; the sponsor and a public-interest witness said the bill restores the intended privacy protections and removes unnecessary barriers for pregnant and postpartum workers. Next, the committee heard Senate Bill 5972, which would extend interest arbitration rights to all correctional officers in jails, regardless of county population. The sponsor and labor witnesses said the current population threshold creates inequities between similarly situated workers and weakens bargaining over safety and staffing, while the bill was framed as a consistency and public safety measure. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5869, which would make permanent and expand a notice requirement for hazards identified at construction sites from residential construction to all building construction sites; construction industry witnesses and L&I supported the change, saying timely notice helps correct hazards quickly, and L&I said it already notifies workers on site and has been able to contact employers within 10 days in most cases. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 5874, which would allow ESD to waive penalties for minor errors in quarterly unemployment reports, especially errors tied to new occupational classification reporting requirements; the sponsor said the current penalty structure is overly harsh for small administrative mistakes, and ESD said penalties had risen sharply and the agency was still evaluating the issue. The committee waived the five-day notice rule for two bills, took no final votes on the bills heard, and adjourned after completing public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• we've made in this committee, we have seen cutbacks in that increased wage premium.
• we've made in this committee, we have seen cutbacks in that increased wage premium.
• we've made in this committee, we have seen cutbacks in that increased wage premium.
• we've made in this committee, we have seen cutbacks in that increased wage premium.
• Um, so I think rightfully so, uh, people were asking for wage increases year after year after year.

Bills: HF3797, HF3780, HF4068, HF3935

Keywords: long-term care, insurance policy, healthcare, partnership policy, Minnesota, human services, wage increase, support workers, shared services, community first services, medical assistance, sanctions, healthcare services, monetary recovery, government accountability, assisted living, training, unlicensed personnel, resident rights, safety regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• And so my concern is that it's going to increase the cost.
• If you increase your tuition, TOPS is staying the same, you're correct.
• inconsequential or a $600 increase is inconsequential.
• You know, it's a $600 increase annually.
• My concern is, Louisiana has seen significant increases...

Bills: HR171, HCR49, HB632, HB1084, SB310, SB351, SB399

Keywords: HR171, House Resolution 171, M.J. Foster Promise Program, TOPS-Tech, TOPS Tech Award, Board of Regents, Louisiana Works, Louisiana Community and Technical College System, LCATCS, financial aid, scholarship, workforce development, career training, technical education, vocational education, postsecondary credential, associate degree, industry-based credential, high-demand jobs, high-wage occupations

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, the tax is 5% of the total annual employee wages that exceed the Social Security wage limit.
• Costs have been increasing at a rate nearly double that of wages.
• whereas wages in that area have increased at a rate of only 80%.
• We are living in a time of increased wealth inequality.
• It will be a direct hit to job creation and worker wages.

Bills: HB2334, HB2140, HB2326, HB2100

Keywords: cash transactions, pennies, currency adjustment, economic impact, consumer protection, tax exemption, governmental transfer, agriculture, land use, property tax, emergency medical services, levies, healthcare funding, local government, taxation, excise tax, large companies, payroll expenses, minimum wage, Well Washington fund

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2140, which would exempt land sold or transferred to a governmental entity from the additional tax owed when land is removed from an open space current-use classification in certain circumstances. Staff explained the bill’s current-use tax rules and noted the fiscal impact is expected to be minimal but indeterminate. Representative Lowe said the bill is meant to fix a narrow problem where a county takes a small frontage strip for public purposes and the owner is still charged back taxes; FutureWise testified in support of the intent but asked for language tweaks to ensure the transferred land does not later become incompatible with agricultural or open-space use. The hearing on HB 2140 was then closed. The committee then heard House Bill 2326, which would allow a fire protection district to impose an EMS levy on the portion of its district not already covered by another taxing district’s EMS levy, with voters in the affected area approving it. Fire district and fire chief representatives testified in support, describing situations where a small overlap prevents most residents in a district from voting on or funding EMS service. Opponents argued the bill would add to property tax burdens. Testimony concluded and the hearing was closed. Next, House Bill 2334 was heard, responding to the federal decision to stop minting new pennies by setting rules for rounding cash transactions to the nearest five cents. Staff said rounding would apply only to cash payments and would occur after taxes and fees are included; the fiscal note was described as indeterminate but minimal at the state level, with some implementation costs. Retail and grocery groups generally supported the bill but requested clarifying amendments and protections related to tax obligations, consumer lawsuits, SNAP equal-treatment rules, and local ordinances; other testimony supported the measure as a practical response to the penny’s disappearance. The hearing was then closed. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2100, a proposed payroll expense tax on large operating companies to fund the new Well Washington Fund for higher education, health care, cash assistance, energy, and housing, with an oversight board and a credit for eligible city payroll taxes. Staff described a substitute narrowing the bill to employers with 250 or more employees and at least $7 million in payroll, with several public-sector and health-related exemptions; the fiscal note projected substantial revenue. Supporters, including labor, poverty, housing, health, and faith advocates, said the bill would help offset federal cuts and protect vulnerable residents. Business, retail, hospitality, construction, and chamber representatives opposed it, warning about job losses, higher costs, and harm to competitiveness. The prime sponsor said the bill is intended as a near-term response to federal funding cuts, and testimony continued with many additional witnesses before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• regular monthly wages.
• As a general reminder, the State Minimum Wage Act and related provisions, including minimum wage, overtime
• ... ...including pay domestic workers at least the minimum hourly wage and overtime wages, specify the
• modular housing, increase the volume coming into this state. governor's office is to increase modular
• housing, increase the volume coming into this state.

Bills: HB2355, HB2151, HB2372, HB2472, HB2409

Keywords: labor protections, domestic workers, wage standards, employment rights, worker safety, factory built housing, commercial structures, national standards, construction regulation, building safety, workers' compensation, benefits, employment, injury claims, insurance, liability, fire protection, sprinkler systems, licensed contractors, certified fitters

Summary: The House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee held public hearings on several bills. HB 2151 would update factory-built housing and commercial structure rules by directing L&I to consider newer national off-site construction standards and by allowing inspections to be performed by qualified third-party agencies without a direct contract requirement. The sponsor said it would reduce costs and speed inspections for manufactured housing; L&I supported the bill as a way to simplify third-party inspection relationships and keep up with workload. HB 2372 would change workers’ compensation time-loss calculations so injured workers receive 100% of the employer’s monthly health care contribution unless the employer keeps paying it directly. Supporters, including building trades representatives and an injured worker, said the current formula leaves families unable to afford coverage; NFIB opposed the bill, arguing the money should go directly to insurers or employers and raising concerns about whether workers would use the funds for premiums. L&I said the bill would require administrative time and funding and noted attorney fees can take up to 30% of additional benefits in some cases. The committee also heard HB 2355, a domestic workers bill of rights. The bill would create standalone protections for domestic workers covering wages, written agreements, notice or severance before termination, anti-harassment and anti-retaliation rules, and protections against discrimination, while also removing certain domestic-worker exemptions from the Minimum Wage Act and extending some discrimination protections. The sponsor and multiple workers, advocates, Seattle labor officials, and an employer testified in support, describing wage theft, lack of notice, and vulnerability in private homes; L&I said it had technical questions and would need time and funding to implement the measure. The committee then heard HB 2409, which would create a collective bargaining framework for agricultural workers under PERC, including union representation procedures, mediation, and interest arbitration. Supporters said it would correct a historic exclusion of farmworkers from collective bargaining rights and improve dignity and safety; opponents from farm groups argued agriculture’s time-sensitive nature means strikes could devastate crops and farms, and they warned the bill could harm the agricultural economy. Finally, the committee heard HB 2472 on fire sprinkler system contracting and fitting. The bill would require contractors and fitters to show licenses or certificates to local fire code officials, authorize stop-work orders for violations, and allow requests for payroll records during investigations. Supporters from labor, fire sprinkler industry groups, and fire marshals said it would improve public safety and enforcement against unqualified work; the Building Industry Association of Washington opposed the bill as drafted, asking for narrower language to avoid unintended reach into residential or other sprinkler systems. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 6045 would increase those costs without providing meaningful protection to workers.
• Washington has the highest minimum wage in the nation.
• In supporting SB 6045, it will allow farm workers to negotiate a livable wage.
• Those are enforced under the current Minimum Wage Act.
• I am a victim of total wage theft.

Bills: SB6045, SB6188, SB6053, SB5852

Keywords: agriculture, collective bargaining, labor relations, public employment, agricultural employees, SB 6188, asbestos, asbestos training, asbestos certification, asbestos worker, asbestos supervisor, Department of Labor and Industries, L&I, rulemaking authority, occupational safety, workplace safety, hazardous materials, abatement, encapsulation, removal

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on several labor-related bills, beginning with SB 6045 on agricultural workers’ collective bargaining rights. Staff explained that the bill would place agricultural employees under PERC, allow certification by cross-check or election, require bargaining before changes to wages or working conditions, and create interest arbitration and enforcement remedies; the fiscal note was described as significant. Supporters, including farmworkers, labor advocates, and community members, said the bill would correct a long-standing exclusion of farmworkers from labor protections and improve wages, safety, and dignity. Opponents, including growers, farm organizations, and business groups, argued that the bill’s card-check process, strike risk, arbitration, and broad scope could disrupt harvests, increase costs, and threaten farm viability. The sponsor said the bill was a starting point and emphasized the need to address exploitation in agriculture; no vote was taken during the hearing. The committee then heard SB 6188, an agency-request bill from the Department of Labor and Industries that would expand L&I’s rulemaking authority over asbestos certification and training. The sponsor and L&I said the change would let the agency adopt stronger worker-safety standards, including parts of the EPA model plan, and cited asbestos as a cancer-causing hazard. The Building Industry Association opposed the bill, warning that it could create conflicting state and federal requirements and increase costs without a demonstrated problem. The hearing on SB 6188 was closed after testimony. Next, the committee took up SB 6053, the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights. Staff said the bill would extend minimum wage, overtime, written agreement, notice, anti-discrimination, and enforcement protections to domestic workers, with L&I responsible for administration and civil penalties available for violations. Supporters, including domestic workers, caregivers, and advocates, described wage theft, long hours, lack of written agreements, and vulnerability to abuse, and said the bill would bring dignity and basic protections to a largely immigrant workforce. L&I said it would need time and resources to implement the new rights and noted technical amendments. Finally, the committee heard SB 5852 on immigrant workers and I-9 audits. Staff and the Attorney General’s office said the bill would require employers to notify workers after receiving notice of a federal inspection, provide copies of results and deficiency notices, restrict voluntary access to records without a warrant or subpoena, and create enforcement and anti-retaliation provisions. Supporters framed the bill as due process and transparency for immigrant workers, while business, hospitality, county, and industry representatives raised concerns about federal conflict, short compliance timelines, translation burdens, and steep penalties. The hearing included extensive testimony but no final committee action was reported in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• content changes were needed: updating exemptions, updating definitions, and incorporating the new wage

Bills: HF2543, HF2566, HF2627

Keywords: garnishment, wage garnishment, earnings levy, bank levy, execution, judgment debtor, judgment creditor, exemption notice, exempt property, bank account freeze, financial institution levy, employer disclosure, garnishee, writ of execution, debt collection, consumer debt, collections, bankruptcy exemptions, public benefits, means-tested benefits

Transcript Highlights:

• content changes were needed: updating exemptions, updating definitions, and incorporating the new wage

Bills: HF2543, HF2566, HF2627

Keywords: garnishment, wage garnishment, earnings levy, bank levy, execution, judgment debtor, judgment creditor, exemption notice, exempt property, bank account freeze, financial institution levy, employer disclosure, garnishee, writ of execution, debt collection, consumer debt, collections, bankruptcy exemptions, public benefits, means-tested benefits

Transcript Highlights:

• Under current law, when a worker files a wage complaint under the Wage Payment Act, L&I is required to
• Under House Bill 2478, the department is given discretion to investigate wage complaints under the Wage
• So it's the adverse effect wage rate. Last year was $19.82, well above the state minimum wage.
• So it's the adverse effect wage rate. Last year was $19.82, well above the state minimum wage.
• So it's the adverse effect wage rate. Last year was $19.82, well above the state minimum wage.

Bills: HB2405, HB2406, HB2471, HB2478, HB2492

Keywords: mental health, PTSD, treatment program, research, pilot program, veteran support, trauma, healthcare funding, labor, communication, Department of Labor and Industries, workplace standards, modernization, collective bargaining, labor relations, employee rights, union representation, non-covered employees, wage enforcement, labor standards

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2492, which would require building and construction apprenticeship programs to provide at least two hours of behavioral health and wellness training starting July 1, 2027. The prime sponsor and many labor and industry witnesses said the bill is intended to address high rates of suicide, overdose, and untreated mental health issues in the trades by teaching apprentices how to recognize distress, reduce stigma, and connect to resources. Testifiers from electrical workers, bricklayers, carpenters, the building trades council, labor council, contractors, and individual apprentices and family members described personal losses and said the training could save lives and improve workplace culture. No vote was taken; the hearing was closed after testimony. The committee then heard House Bill 2405, a Department of Labor and Industries request bill creating a pilot program for early workers’ compensation treatment of PTSD for certain occupational disease claims, with up to 11 treatment sessions before claim adjudication and limited follow-up treatment after claim closure. L&I and NFIB supported the bill as a way to speed treatment and reduce barriers, while the Washington State Association for Justice supported it but raised technical concerns about pre-claim treatment and said the bill should focus more on workplace prevention and culture. The Citizens Commission on Human Rights cautioned against turning the pilot into a vehicle for psychiatric drug treatment. The hearing was closed without action. House Bill 2406, another L&I request bill, would allow the department to send many notices electronically instead of by mail, with an option for recipients to choose non-electronic notice. L&I said the change would modernize communications and reduce mailing costs, but the Washington State Association for Justice and the Washington State Labor Council opposed the workers’ compensation portions, arguing that email should not become the default for notices affecting rights and deadlines and that vulnerable workers may lack reliable internet access or tech literacy. The committee then heard House Bill 2478, which would give L&I discretion to investigate wage complaints and allow civil penalties when the department initiates an investigation; L&I supported the bill as a way to address workplace-wide wage violations more efficiently, and members discussed how workers would still be informed and able to pursue private rights of action. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2471, a trigger bill creating a state collective bargaining system through PERC if federal labor law coverage disappears or the NLRB loses jurisdiction. Labor groups strongly supported it as a backstop for organizing and dispute resolution, while agricultural employers and growers opposed it, arguing that the bill would not fit the seasonal, perishable nature of farm work and could make harvest disruptions and strikes especially damaging. The hearing on HB 2471 remained open at the end of the transcript, and no votes were taken on any bill.

Bills: HB 101, HB1819, HB1875, HB1965, HB2193, HB2914, HB3248, HB3354, HB3531, HB101

Keywords: Texas State Guard, task force, professionalization, state missions, critical infrastructure, veterans, veterans' affairs, mental health, community mental health, behavioral health, grant program, matching grant, non-state match, community services, family support, county population, Health and Human Services Commission, HHSC, public safety, homeland security

Transcript Highlights:

• The exemption has been increased from And then the exemption has been increased from 30 times the state
• minimum hourly wage up to 60 times the state minimum hourly wage, or 80% of a debtor's disposable earnings
• If you're a high-wage worker, the 80% is going to be ...the multiplier helps our low-wage workers, right
• Increasing the amount of wages that are protected from garnishment will help prevent our clients' complete
• Increasing the documentation requirements increases personal liability for DCRs without additional protections

Bills: SB5962, SB6105, SB6203, SB6296

Keywords: spring blade knives, knife legislation, weapon regulation, public safety, law enforcement, medical debt, garnishment, wage garnishment, earnings exemption, exempt wages, debt collection, consumer debt, student loan debt, private student loans, disposable earnings, minimum wage, writ of garnishment, exemption claim, judgment debtor, creditor

Summary: The committee first suspended the five-day notice requirement and then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 5962, which would remove spring blade knives from the list of dangerous weapons while keeping restrictions on carrying them in schools, child care facilities, and other sensitive places. Staff explained the current law and the bill’s effect. Supporters, including Knife Rights and the prime sponsor, said the law is outdated, inconsistent, and harmful to workers and manufacturers; one testifier also argued the bill should go further and remove added carry restrictions. Testimony was overwhelmingly in favor, and the hearing closed with the chair noting the bill had 50 pro and 2 con sign-ins. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6105, which raises the wage garnishment exemption for judgments arising from medical debt from 30 to 60 times the state minimum wage, while keeping the 80% disposable earnings exemption and adding clearer notice requirements. The sponsor and supporters from patient, consumer, AARP, and anti-poverty groups argued that medical debt is often unexpected and that the higher exemption would help families avoid financial collapse and keep working. Opponents from collectors and receivables groups said the bill was not developed through a stakeholder process, could create compliance and privacy problems, might increase litigation and fees, and could worsen provider financial strain. The hearing ended with 33 pro and 107 con sign-ins. Next, the committee took testimony on Senate Bill 6203, which would clarify that out-of-state convictions can include foreign-country convictions for offender scoring if obtained with sufficient due process and fairness safeguards. The sponsor said the bill closes a gap identified by a recent Washington Supreme Court decision. Prosecutors supported the concept and suggested simplifying the language, while the Sentencing Guidelines Commission, public defenders, and defense advocates opposed it, arguing the due process standard is undefined, foreign legal systems are hard to evaluate, and the bill could create unequal and costly litigation. The hearing closed with 2,997 pro and 67 con sign-ins. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 6296, a broad involuntary treatment bill that expands who may petition for detention under the ITA, changes procedures for less restrictive alternative treatment and assisted outpatient treatment, adds firearm surrender compliance steps, and requires more law enforcement involvement in some detentions. The sponsor said the bill addresses gaps in transport, firearm surrender, AOT access, and Joel’s Law. Supporters from providers and counties backed parts of the bill, especially information sharing and removing the AOT declarant requirement, but many stakeholders including DCRs, disability rights advocates, behavioral health organizations, hospitals, and public defense raised concerns about due process, capacity, rural transport, law enforcement liability, vague standards, and unintended consequences. The hearing was still underway at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• an average wage of at least $23 per hour with health care benefits.
• Some of these include compensation of workers at prevailing wage rates, procurement from and contracts
• This is 1,500 family wage jobs for the state of Washington.
• construction costs, and wages that simply cannot keep pace with rising home prices.
• In the Methow Valley alone, housing costs have increased at roughly four times the rate of wage growth

Bills: HB2175, HB2227, HB2528, HB2292, HB2257, HB2608

Keywords: durable medical equipment, sales tax exemption, healthcare accessibility, cost reduction, nonprofit providers, affordable housing, real estate tax, exemption, housing policy, tax incentives, real estate excise tax, REET, growth management act, GMA, local government finance, capital facilities plan, comprehensive plan, county tax, city tax, voter approval

Summary: House Finance heard a series of bill briefings and public hearings on tax and revenue measures. HB 2175 would exempt free durable medical equipment providers from retail sales and use tax on certain equipment purchases; the sponsor and a nonprofit provider testified that the bill would help charitable organizations furnish wheelchairs, walkers, scooters, beds, and similar items at no cost to patients, while staff said the Department of Revenue expects a small general fund revenue loss and some administrative costs. HB 2608, a reintroduced version of last year’s HB 1210, would require nuclear facility projects seeking the targeted urban area property tax exemption to meet specified labor standards and allow cities extra time to complete projects; supporters said it would help attract major clean-energy manufacturing and jobs, while opponents from contractor groups, environmental advocates, and others objected to the PLA/labor requirements, the tax preference for nuclear projects, and the potential impact on competition and local taxpayers. The committee also heard HB 2227, which would extend an existing REIT exemption for self-help housing to other nonprofit affordable homeownership programs such as community land trusts; sponsors and housing providers said it would lower closing costs and preserve long-term affordability, and staff said the exemption applies to the nonprofit-to-buyer sale, not later resales. HB 2528 would let counties and cities that voluntarily fully plan under the Growth Management Act impose the second local REIT without voter approval; supporters said it would give all GMA cities the same tools to fund sidewalks, ADA work, and other infrastructure, while opponents argued it would raise homeownership costs and remove voter approval for a tax increase. The committee then heard HB 2292, which would subject gains from qualified small business stock to Washington’s capital gains tax beginning in 2026. Staff said the bill would affect about 260 taxpayers and raise roughly $1.2 million in fiscal year 2027, while the sponsor argued it closes a loophole that mainly benefits wealthy investors and does not affect the standard deduction or other existing exemptions. Testimony split sharply: tax policy advocates supported the bill as a way to make the tax code less regressive, while startup founders, venture and tech industry representatives, and small business groups warned it would discourage investment, hurt founders and early employees, and push innovation activity out of state. Finally, HB 2257 was briefed as a Department of Revenue request bill making technical and administrative tax-code changes, largely to codify guidance tied to last year’s sales-tax-on-services legislation; staff said the changes are intended to clarify definitions, exclusions, sourcing, and related tax treatment, and DOR testified in support, explaining that the bill would give taxpayers statutory certainty for rules the department has already been enforcing administratively.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have PTSD from my experience and went through bouts of depression and increased anxiety as a result
• The use of assisted reproductive technologies is increasing at a rate of 5 to 10 percent per year.
• As an association, our members estimate a minimum increased cost of $9 per member per month.
• It may lead to increased premiums and reduced benefits for policyholders.
• garments, in order to increase fire-retardant properties that would otherwise place consumers at risk

Bills: AB52, AB76, AB163, AB388, AB483

Keywords: health insurance, claims process, insurance regulation, admin penalties, healthcare access, cannabis, cannabis establishment, medical cannabis, adult-use cannabis, advertising regulations, packaging requirements, unlicensed cannabis activities, state prosecution, confidentiality, Cannabis Compliance Board, disciplinary proceedings, mental health, counseling, interstate practice, telehealth

Transcript Highlights:

• The idea is that as the value of property has increased substantially since these statutes were originally
• ballot information that clearly noted that a bond election was going to result in a property tax increase
• ballot information that clearly noted that a bond election was going to result in a property tax increase
• I mean, increasing the home and commercial values used in information on notices may reduce transparency
• Sandoval mr. chair I share the same concerns I mean increasing the home and commercial values used in

Bills: HB2016, HB2104, HB2105, HB2288, HB2289

Keywords: tax penalties, filing, tax returns, administration, Arizona Revised Statutes, agricultural property, classification, county assessor, property inspection, appeal process, property tax, agricultural classification, Department of Revenue, property valuation, inspection notice, inspection report, on-site inspection, full cash value, rural land, farm land