During March 2026, Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson signed legislation amending employment regulations scheduled to take effect in 2026.
Senate Bill 6106 became effective March 17, 2026. The legislation provides protections for tribal employers and exempts employers from providing names and addresses of employees in notices provided to the Employment Security Department as part of a mass layoff or business closure notice.
The Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) received expanded authority through Substitute House Bill 2479. Effective June 11, 2026, L&I has the discretion to determine the order of wage complaint investigations based on severity. The agency can prioritize cases involving “repeat violators” or “large-scale wage theft.” In addition, the minimum civil penalty for a willful violation is increased from $1,000 to $1,500 or 10 percent of unpaid wages, whichever is greater. The previous $20,000 maximum cap for these penalties is removed.
Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2303 prohibits employers from requiring or requesting that employees have a microchip implanted as a condition of employment or for any other reason. This law takes effect June 11, 2026. Employers in violation are subject to civil suits for punitive damages and attorneys’ fees.
Signed into law last year, House Bill 1213 expands job protection for Paid Family and Medical Leave from 50+ employee businesses to smaller employers per the following schedule.
- January 1, 2026: Employers with 25+ employees.
- January 1, 2027: Employers with 15+ employees.
- January 1, 2028: Employers with 8+ employees.
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