Washington lawmakers wrestled with some major proposals in the legislative session that ran Jan. 12 to March 12, and organized labor was in the Capitol to push those that would benefit working people. Like Oregon, Washington holds a short legislative session in even-numbered years. Washington’s short session runs 60 days. Here are some of the top wins identified by the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO:
- MILLIONAIRES TAX After one of the longest debates in the legislature’s history, lawmakers passed SB 6346.It levies a 9.9% tax on income over $1 million starting Jan. 1, 2028, and that threshold will be adjusted annually for inflation. Washington is one of just eight states that have had no income tax, and voters have rejected income taxes 10 times. But polls showed 61% of Washingtonians favored this one because it targets those best able to pay. It’s estimated only about 20,000 people will pay it – fewer than 1 in 200 Washingtonians — and yet it’s forecast to bring in about $3.7 billion in annual revenue. SB 6346 also lowers taxes that working people and small businesses pay: It eliminates sales tax on diapers, hygiene products, and over-the-counter drugs, and it lowers the business and occupation tax on small businesses.
- DOMESTIC WORKERS BILL OF RIGHTS Domestic workers like nannies, housekeepers, and home caregivers have long been excluded from certain labor laws. Now thanks to HB 2355, starting July 1, 2027, domestic workers in Washington will have the right to minimum wage, overtime pay, written employment agreements, fair notice of termination, and anti-discrimination protections.
- CHILDCARE WORKFORCE STANDARDS BOARD Under HB 1128, a new Child Care Workforce Standards Board composed of workers, parents, and providers will set standards for working conditions and quality of care. The standards will cover approximately 20,000 early educators in more than 6,000 child care facilities across Washington.
- STUDENT WORKER COLLECTIVE BARGAINING HB 1570 gives collective bargaining to undergraduate student workers at four public universities: Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, Western Washington University, and The Evergreen State College.
- BANNING NON-COMPETE CLAUSES In recent years it has become a regular workers rights abuse for employers to require even low-level employees to sign “non-compete” clauses saying they won’t go to work for competitors. Now under HB 1155, starting June 30, 2027, non-compete agreements will be illegal in Washington for employees and independent contractors, regardless of when the agreements were signed. The law also requires employers to notify workers that the agreements are no longer enforceable.
- SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING IN CONSTRUCTION At the request of building trades unions, lawmakers passed HB 2492 to mandate that state registered construction apprenticeship programs provide at least two hours of behavioral health and wellness training starting July 1, 2027. The requirement is meant to address high rates of suicide and substance abuse in the industry by removing the stigma of asking for help and encouraging workers to look out for signs of distress among their coworkers.
