Transcript Highlights:

• This is the bill that establishes labor protections for domestic workers separate from the Minimum Wage
• Therefore, the proposed substitute applies to... ...by the National Labor Relations Act.
• This is also agency request from the Department of Labor and Industries.
• That is the National Labor Review Board.
• So this was an L&I request, labor industry's request bill.

Bills: HB2355, HB2405, HB2406, HB2471, HB2472, HB2478, HB2479, HB2492

Keywords: labor protections, domestic workers, wage standards, employment rights, worker safety, 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

Summary: The committee met in executive session on eight bills and first received staff briefings on each measure and the proposed amendments or substitutes. The bills covered domestic worker labor protections (HB 2355), a PTSD treatment pilot in workers’ compensation (HB 2405), electronic notices from L&I (HB 2406), private-sector collective bargaining triggers tied to federal labor law (HB 2471), fire sprinkler contractor licensing and fitter certification (HB 2472), wage complaint enforcement discretion (HB 2478), wage recovery and a wage recovery account (HB 2479), and behavioral health and wellness training for apprentices (HB 2492). Members discussed several amendments that narrowed or clarified exemptions, preserved current law in certain areas, and aligned related wage enforcement provisions. The committee then took up each bill in turn. Proposed Substitute HB 2355, which expands domestic worker protections and remedies, was advanced on a 6-3 vote after members debated the scope of the bill and a fiscal note; supporters emphasized protections for a vulnerable workforce, while opponents cited cost concerns. HB 2405 was amended to make participation in the PTSD pilot optional for workers and self-insurers, then passed unanimously. HB 2406 was amended to preserve current law for certain workers’ compensation and transportation-network-company notices while allowing electronic notices with recipient consent, and it passed unanimously. Proposed Substitute HB 2471, which would create a state collective bargaining trigger if federal labor law is no longer effective, passed 6-3 after debate over whether the bill was premature. The remaining bills also advanced with broad support. HB 2472 was amended to remove a stop-work reference for residential sprinkler fitting and then passed unanimously. HB 2478 was amended to require L&I to prioritize wage complaints and make its enforcement priorities public, then passed unanimously. HB 2479, the wage recovery bill, was amended to adjust repeat-willful-violator penalties and passed unanimously after members from both parties praised the bipartisan work group behind it. HB 2492 was amended to allow certain behavioral health training to count toward continuing education for licensed electricians and plumbers, then passed unanimously. At the end of the meeting, all eight bills were reported out of committee with due pass recommendations, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• relations; if the National Labor Relations Board, which administers the Federal National Labor Relations
• laborers.
• House Bill 2471 builds on Washington's labor past.
• Representative Scott responded that the State Labor Council and other labor stakeholders made his office
• Washington farm labor wages are already well above the national average, so proposing new labor mandates

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.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee meeting.
• Tammy Felon on behalf of the Department of Labor and Industries.
• and safety protections, child labor, workers' comp, minimum wage, even participation in the Social Security
• We support fair labor practices and protections in Washington.
• I'm Scott Dilley from the Worker and Farmer Labor Association, representing labor-intensive farmers and

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:

• I agree that spending time in schools and with public safety folks is a best practice.
• Same thing with the Public Safety committee or committee.
• </c> not military the uh Public Safety not military the uh Public Safety commission<00:52:40.680><c>
• Those were child, education, and public safety.
• </c> education and those were Public Safety education and those were Public Safety those<01:09:58.360

Bills: HF550, HF412, HF796, HF140

Keywords: redistricting, Bipartisan Commission, Minnesota Constitution, census, legislative districts, HF412, Minnesota legislature, education committee, K-12 education, school observation, teacher observation, administrator observation, legislative transparency, legislator accountability, House rules, Senate rules, Legislative Reference Library, public reporting, education finance, education policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, welcome to the first committee meeting of the Labor and Workplace Standards Committee.
• House Bill 2107 pertains to workplace safety inspections.
• The Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act authorizes the Department of Labor and Industries to
• Tammy Fellin with the Department of Labor and Industries.
• This supports our workers, their safety, and our bargaining rights.

Bills: HB2107, HB2137, HB2243, HB2264

Keywords: construction safety, hazard notification, worksite regulations, labor safety, state law, law enforcement, correctional officers, interest arbitration, collective bargaining, public safety, workers' compensation, healthcare providers, physical therapy, occupational therapy, employment, unemployment insurance, benefits, layoffs, workforce reduction, 904

Summary: The committee heard four bills. HB 2107 would make permanent and slightly narrow a pilot requirement for the Department of Labor and Industries to notify employers or owners within 10 working days when a hazard is found during an on-site inspection at a building construction site. Construction industry groups and L&I supported the bill and said the pilot had worked well, with L&I reporting it had been able to notify owners in almost 96% of cases. No opposition was raised, and the hearing was closed. HB 2137 would remove the 70,000-population threshold for binding interest arbitration for correctional employees in city and county jails. Teamsters witnesses said the change would give corrections officers in smaller jurisdictions the same bargaining rights as other uniformed personnel and could improve safety, staffing, and wages. The Washington State Association of Counties opposed the bill, saying it would increase bargaining and compensation costs for many counties, and asked for amendments requiring arbitrators to consider county finances and making arbitration decisions nonbinding on county appropriations. The hearing was closed without a vote. HB 2264 would clarify unemployment insurance eligibility for workers who volunteer for an employer-initiated layoff or reduction-in-force plan, removing a court-created “final action” requirement that has led to benefit denials when workers can rescind their election. Supporters, including unemployment advocates and a worker who lost benefits after accepting a severance program, said the bill would prevent workers from being wrongly treated as having quit. NFIB asked about the effect of severance and retirement on eligibility, and ESD said it would follow up in writing. The hearing was closed. HB 2243 would allow physical therapists and occupational therapists to serve as attending providers in the workers’ compensation system. PT and OT witnesses said this would speed access to care, improve return-to-work outcomes, and reduce costs, while business groups, retailers, food industry representatives, NFIB, and the Washington State Medical Association opposed the bill, arguing that attending providers must be able to make accurate diagnoses, certify time loss, and handle impairment ratings, and warning of possible added costs, litigation, and administrative burdens. L&I said adding PTs and OTs as attending providers would require all providers in those categories to join the medical provider network and could cause some to leave the system; the committee closed the hearing and adjourned without taking action.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:26:49.440><c> and</c> forth with Department of Labor and forth with Department of Labor and Industry
• ,</c><01:01:33.480><c> that</c> In a fair labor market, that In a fair labor market, that vulnerability
• </c> jurisdiction of the Department of Labor jurisdiction of the Department of Labor and<01:14:37.080
• </c> put an offense as a traffic safety put an offense as a traffic safety violation<01:23:33.200><c>
• </c> Department of Labor. Department of Labor.

Bills: HF3878, HF4131, HF3796, HF4097

Keywords: airport workers, wage standards, labor rights, minimum wage, economic equity, surveillance, price discrimination, wage discrimination, consumer rights, automated decision systems, Minnesota Statutes, suitable seating, employee seating, workplace seating, occupational safety, workplace safety, labor standards, employer requirements, chair, stool

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm calling to order this meeting of the House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and
• ><c> for</c><00:25:38.880><c> inservice</c> annual safety inspections for inservice annual safety inspections
• </c><00:58:46.079><c> and</c> to support the Department of Labor and to support the Department of Labor
• There's not even a labor union who is representing these workers.
• even a labor union who is representing these<01:36:18.040><c> workers.

Bills: HF3228, HF2441

Keywords: workers' compensation, insurance programs, employee protection, Minnesota statutes, safety regulations, prevailing wage, certified payroll, payroll reporting, construction contracts, public works, project registration, labor standards, contractor compliance, subcontractor reporting, state government, Department of Administration, Commissioner of Labor and Industry, Metropolitan Council, highway construction, public construction

Transcript Highlights:

• The Labor and Workplace Standards Committee meeting for today, Friday, January 16th.
• We can’t pursue that treatment because it’s not covered by Labor and Industries.
• , Tammy Fellin from the Department of Labor and Industries as well, and that's it.
• For example, the Department of Labor is called out.
• Edgar Franks from Families United for Immigrant and Labor Rights.

Bills: HB2091, HB2105, HB2218, HB2107, HB2137, HB2243, HB2264

Keywords: public employers, employee information, bargaining representatives, labor relations, union representation, immigrant worker protections, immigrant rights, worker protections, I-9 audit, Form I-9, employment eligibility verification, workplace raid, federal immigration inspection, employer notice, anti-retaliation, retaliation, Attorney General enforcement, private right of action, labor law, workplace rights

Summary: The committee first took up executive action on several bills, deferring action on HB 2091 and HB 2243 and advancing HB 2264. HB 2264 would allow workers who voluntarily participate in an employer-initiated layoff or reduction-in-force plan to receive unemployment insurance benefits if their separation results from the plan. Supporters said it would remove confusing language and help laid-off workers access benefits; a member noted similar confusion from past layoffs. The committee voted 9-0 to report HB 2264 out of committee with a due pass recommendation. The committee then heard HB 2091, which would extend existing collective bargaining information-sharing requirements to state agencies and certain other public employers covered by the Personnel System Reform Act. The bill would require those employers to provide unions with employee contact and job information, including personal email addresses, so unions can communicate with represented workers. The prime sponsor and union witnesses said the change would close a gap left by prior legislation and improve communication; there was no opposition testimony in the excerpt, and action on the bill was deferred. The bulk of the meeting focused on HB 2218, a workers’ compensation bill that would expand provider choice, require notice to injured workers about their right to choose providers, limit employer steering, allow deviation from treatment guidelines when medically appropriate, speed utilization review, expand continued treatment and reopening options for certain claims, and require written notice and appeal rights when providers are removed from the network. Supporters, including labor, injured-worker advocates, firefighters, and physicians, said the current system delays care and over-relies on rigid guidelines; opponents from business groups and the Department of Labor and Industries warned the bill would weaken evidence-based standards, increase costs, and create vague new penalties. No vote was taken on HB 2218 in the excerpt. The committee also heard extensive testimony on HB 2105, as proposed substitute, which would require employers to notify workers after an ICE Form I-9 inspection notice, share inspection results, post worker-rights notices, and limit voluntary disclosure of worker records without a subpoena or warrant, with enforcement by the Attorney General and private lawsuits. Supporters framed the bill as a due-process and worker-protection measure for immigrant workers and mixed-status families, while business and county representatives argued the notice and record-sharing requirements, short timelines, and penalties were too burdensome and could conflict with federal enforcement or discourage hiring. No final action on HB 2105 was taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have all of our safety net.
• do work with our labor market information team.
• I'm Marlon Yanez, staff to the Labor and Commerce Committee.
• disputes as their public safety counterparts.
• When we do a safety and health inspection, we do both an opening conference with both business and labor

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:

• Bienvenidos to our reunion of Labor and Commerce.
• However, we've got this contract laboral, with a while we'll get this contract laboral, with a whelga
• This farm does not have a lack of labor, and nevertheless, we try to achieve this contract labor through
• We've several enforcement agencies, Senator, both Labor and Industries and also the Department of Labor
• We actually partner closely with the Division of Labor Standards, Office of Labor Standards, with the

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:

• Welcome to the Labor and Workplace Standards Committee hearing.
• Along with Patrick Connor, to my right, I am the co-chair of the Labor and Business Working Group on
• Secondly, the bill strengthens the Department of Labor and Industries' ability to deter bad conduct.
• both business and labor organizations and wage theft was one of the key topics we discussed.
• Madam Chair, we'll be hearing from Carissa Larson from the Washington State Labor Council AFL-CIO.

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:

• Welcome to the Labor and Workplace Standards Committee. Today is Friday, February 20th, 2026.
• The Department of Labor and Industries adopts rules for asbestos certification.
• The Department of Labor and Industry adopts rules for asbestos certification.
• So this is a bill about worker safety.
• Tammy Fellon, on behalf of the Department of Labor and Industries.

Bills: SB6136, SB6188, SB5944

Keywords: workers' compensation, industrial insurance, premium rates, rate transparency, actuarial rates, contingency reserves, Department of Labor and Industries, L&I, risk classifications, employer premiums, insurance regulation, rate setting, premium increase limits, workers' compensation advisory committee, retrospective rating, state insurance fund, accident and medical aid funds, SB 6188, asbestos, asbestos training

Bills: HB2271, HB2324, HB2387, HB2116, HB1682, HB2468, HB2091

Keywords: HB2271, Hawaii budget, emergency appropriation, public employment cost items, collective bargaining, labor grievances, temporary hazard pay, state employees, bargaining unit 1, bargaining unit 10, BU-1, BU-10, Department of Education, University of Hawaii, general fund, revolving funds, interdepartmental transfers, settlement agreement, arbitration award, court order

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> workers out on strike over unfair labor workers out on strike over unfair labor practices<00:14:
• We want to make sure that we have safety committees that we can address our health and safety concerns
• We want to make sure that we have safety committees that we can address our health and safety concerns
• We want to make sure that we have safety committees that we can address our health and safety concerns
• our health and safety concerns address our health and safety concerns in<00:31:20.399><c> the</c><00

Bills: HF3023, HF3078, HF107, HF2171, HF3079, HF689, HF1316

Keywords: unemployment benefits, iron ore mining, economic support, workforce development, Minnesota, unemployment insurance, deferred resignation, employment, worker rights, benefits eligibility, Ellsworth Independent School District, ISD 514, school construction, school renovation, sales tax exemption, use tax refund, construction materials, HVAC replacement, boiler replacement, window replacement

Transcript Highlights:

• Happy Tuesday, and you are in the Labor and Commerce Committee.
• After family members appeal a denial, Labor and Industry almost always approves the claim.
• You know, I've been through a lot of issues with Labor and Industries.
• Safety Committee, where we meet... ...something about the safety issues, because we have what's called
• Members of the committee, Tammy Fellon, with the Department of Labor and Industries.

Bills: SB5379, SB6106, SB6147, SB6180, SB5927, SB6287

Keywords: interest arbitration, parks and recreation, public employees, labor relations, employee rights, laid-off employees act, WARN notice, mass layoff, business closure, plant closing, worker adjustment and retraining notification, employment security department, employee notice, layoff notice, worker protections, job loss, employment loss, public records exemption, privacy, employee names and addresses

Summary: The Labor and Commerce Committee heard public testimony on several bills. Senate Bill 618, the Eric Schrauss Memorial Act, would remove current time-and-exposure qualifiers for the presumption that heart problems in covered firefighters and law enforcement officers are occupational diseases. The sponsor and family members of firefighters who died of heart disease testified in support, saying the current law creates delays and burdens for grieving families; counties, cities, and self-insurers opposed the bill, citing the large fiscal impact, lack of scientific support for removing the qualifiers, and concerns about expanding presumptions without further review. An L&I researcher explained the existing time limits and said the advisory committee’s prior review did not support the change, though he noted some states have broader presumptions. No vote was taken. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5379, which would extend interest arbitration rights to Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission law enforcement employees. The sponsor and a park ranger testified that rangers are commissioned peace officers who cannot strike and are paid below comparable agencies, making arbitration important for retention and fairness. The bill was heard and left for later action. Senate Bill 6147, concerning grocery establishment closures in food deserts, would require six months’ notice before closure, good-faith meetings to explore alternatives, and enforcement authority for the Attorney General and others. Supporters, including Tacoma officials, grocery workers, and community advocates, said the Fred Meyer closure in South Tacoma showed the need for more notice and community planning; grocers and industry groups opposed the bill as overly prescriptive and burdensome, arguing closures are driven by broader business and safety issues. The hearing closed without a vote. Senate Bill 6106, requested by the Employment Security Department, would exempt Indian tribes from the state WARN-style layoff notice law and make employee names and addresses submitted to ESD confidential under the Public Records Act. ESD and business groups supported the bill as a clarification that protects personal data; the committee noted no fiscal impact. Senate Bill 5927 would cap future workers’ compensation COLAs at 3 percent starting in 2026. The sponsor and business/self-insurer witnesses said the cap would help address volatility and long-term unfunded liabilities; labor and injured-worker advocates opposed it, saying it would erode wage replacement for injured workers and survivors. L&I explained that it had been studying possible COLA reforms, including a 3 percent cap and a rolling-average approach, but withdrew its own proposal. Finally, Senate Bill 6287 on kratom would ban harmful additives and synthetic alkaloids, require labeling, set a 21+ age limit, and allow local governments to adopt stricter rules. The sponsor and poison center testimony supported regulation of concentrated 7-OH products, while industry and advocacy witnesses supported age limits and labeling but raised concerns about private lawsuits, local patchwork regulation, and the need for a state licensing framework. The committee adjourned after completing testimony on the day’s bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, thank you for being a little flexible today, and welcome to the House Workforce, Labor, and Economic
• I mean, our committee hears bills relating to workforce, labor, and economic development, and there's
• The board looked at several data sets, including one from DEED, one from the Department of Labor and
• They added that they do actually have a mechanism in the rules so that if ... people's day uh Labor Day
• and uh people's day uh Labor Day and uh Thanksgiving<01:21:57.840><c> Veterans</c><01:21:58.360><c>

Bills: HF23, HF1355

Keywords: whistleblower, whistleblower protections, public employees, state employees, retaliation, reporting fraud, misuse of authority, personal gain, state government, state services, state programs, legislative auditor, constitutional officer, public corruption, fraud reporting, government accountability, employee rights, labor law, Minnesota Statutes 181.931, Minnesota Statutes 181.932

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, and welcome to your Friday meeting of Labor and Commerce.
• An individual state fund employer pays rates depending on the industry and the individual safety record
• Like many state programs, Washington's workers' compensation system serves as a vital safety net for
• Tammy Fellin with the Department of Labor and Industries.
• For the record, my name is Brenda Heilman, and I'm speaking on behalf of Labor and Industries.

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:

• Patient safety depends on this skill set.
• I’m with the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO.
• I appreciate your knowledge of labor issues and bargaining.
• It is a tool used to prevent unfair labor practices from happening.
• It is a tool used to prevent unfair labor practices from happening.

Bills: SB5437, SB6152, SB6058, SB5944, SB6039, SB6117

Keywords: noncompete, noncompetition agreement, restrictive covenant, nonsolicitation, employment contract, worker mobility, labor law, wage suppression, trade secrets, confidentiality agreement, franchise, independent contractor, employee mobility, economic growth, entrepreneurship, job mobility, restraint of trade, customer solicitation, post-employment restrictions, FTC noncompete rule

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several labor and commerce bills. SB 6152 would add physical and occupational therapists as attending providers in workers’ compensation. Supporters said it would speed care, reduce delays and costs, and better reflect PT/OT expertise in musculoskeletal and functional recovery; opponents, including the Washington Retail Association, WSMA, NFIB, and L&I, raised concerns about diagnosis, scope of practice, network enrollment, implementation costs, and the need for a later effective date. The committee also heard SB 5337, which would void non-compete agreements and clarify non-solicitation rules. The sponsor and labor and physician groups argued non-competes restrict worker mobility and entrepreneurship, while business groups and some health care employers warned the bill was too broad, could affect current employees and executives, and should preserve stronger protections for business investments and customer relationships. No votes were taken on either bill during the hearing. The committee then heard SB 6058, which would give L&I discretion to decide whether to investigate wage complaints and would adjust timelines and tolling rules for wage-related civil actions. The sponsor and L&I described it as a way to improve enforcement within existing resources, and the bill drew broad support in sign-in testimony. SB 5944 would clarify that compensation for language access providers includes payment for missed or canceled appointments and would align bargaining rules across agencies; the sponsor and union representatives said it would create consistency and fairness, with no opposition testimony recorded. SB 6039 would allow L&I to use electronic communications for certain notices while preserving a non-electronic option; L&I said it was a permissive modernization measure with no fiscal impact, while labor and justice advocates warned against defaulting vulnerable workers into email for notices affecting benefits and rights. The final major bill, SB 6117, would place certain workers and employers not covered by federal labor law under PERC jurisdiction if federal coverage no longer applies, including provisions for certification, bargaining, arbitration, and pre-hire agreements. Supporters said it would preserve collective bargaining rights if the NLRB becomes unavailable or ineffective, citing delays and enforcement failures under federal law. Opponents, especially agricultural employers, farm groups, and small business advocates, argued it was too broad, could sweep in agriculture and small businesses, and would allow card-check certification and strikes that could disrupt harvests and other seasonal operations. The sponsor said the bill is intended to create a state framework only where federal jurisdiction has been ceded. The committee did not take final action in the hearing, but testimony was recorded on all bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• In materials, you can see that surplus lines is a safety valve for hard-to-place or difficult-to-place
• We are a surplus lines insurer, which means we are a safety net provider of last resort.
• This will allow for decisions to be based upon the most efficient cost and most competitive labor for
• You know, really the point of project labor agreements is to improve predictability... stability, safety
• protections. through project labor agreements.

Bills: SB388, SB455, SB917, SB925, SB1006

Keywords: dispatchable generation, electricity, natural gas, ERCOT, energy credits, utilities regulation, renewable energy, arbitration, insurance contracts, surplus lines, Texas law, insurance policy, boiler inspection, boiler safety, inspection report deadline, certificate inspection, authorized inspector, inspection agency, Health and Safety Code, board of boiler rules

Transcript Highlights:

• information about construction or maintenance work zones in the curriculum. of Driver Education and Driver Safety
• the submission of boiler certificate inspection reports, which delays the notification of potential safety
• Labor Code and Occupation Code further complicates enforcement.

Bills: HB2450, SB378, SB764, SB917, SB1254, SB1255

Keywords: elevator inspection, building safety, construction standards, health and safety code, regulatory requirements, SB 378, Texas Occupations Code, barbering, cosmetology, barber, cosmetologist, licensing, professional licensing, unauthorized practice, medical procedures, skin incision, dermis, injections, devices, consumer safety