Where pro-worker bills stand in Olympia

Following cutoff deadlines, an update on WSLC’s 2022 legislative agenda

UPDATED (March 7, 2022 – 7 a.m.) — This has been updated with the latest status of each bill. Friday, March 4 was the deadline for bills not related to the budget to pass the opposite house.

OLYMPIA (Feb. 4, 2022) — Feb. 3 was the cutoff deadline for proposed legislation to advance from policy committees in the short, 60-day 2022 session of the Washington State Legislature. Monday, Feb. 7 is the deadline for fiscal bills to emerge from those committees, and Feb. 15 is the deadline for bills to pass their houses of origin.

Following is a status report on the Workers’ Recovery Agenda of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO — the state’s largest union organization, which represents the interests of some 550,000 rank-and file members in more than 600 different unions. (Download a printable PDF, which has been updated with bill numbers.)

Retain and Respect Our Healthcare Workforce — HB 1868 (Riccelli) and SB 5751 (Robinson) — Enforcing minimum staffing standards so that hospital and healthcare workers can access basic meal and rest breaks that make work safe, reliable and balanced. Get details.

HB 1868 passed the House, 55-43, passed Senate Labor, Commerce & Tribal Affairs but did not advance from Ways & Means before cutoff. Companion bill SB 5751 did not advance from the Senate Labor, Commerce & Tribal Affairs.

ALSO at The Stand:

Video: Why Washington needs safe staffing standards (Jan. 19)
Lawmakers introduce bipartisan healthcare safe staffing bills (Jan. 11)
Nurses to WA State Legislature: Address hospital staffing crisis (Dec. 14, 2021)

Support and Expand Apprenticeship Opportunities — SB 5600 (Keiser) would expand capacity and opportunity for current state-registered apprenticeship programs, while also providing resources for the successful adopting of joint labor-management programs in new industries. SB 5764 (Randall) would ensure that apprentices have access to a broad suite of student support services, and greater academic acknowledgement of their education and training. Get details.

SB 5600 passed the Senate, 39-10, and passed the House, 94-4. SB 5764 passed the Senate, 48-0, and passed the House, 94-2. Both go back to the Senate for concurrence since they were amended.

The Stand (Jan. 13) — Apprenticeship bills will boost opportunities

Improve Energy Facility Siting and Permitting — HB 1812 (Fitzgibbon) would modernize the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council to provide streamlined and predictable siting and permitting processes without harming environmental standards and the rights of Tribal nations. (Get details.)

HB 1812 passed the House, 95-3, passed the Senate, 29-20, and goes back to the House for concurrence with a Senate amendment.

The Stand (Mar. 4) — Energy facility permitting bill passes Senate, heads to governor
The Stand (Jan. 25) — Energy facility permitting needs upgrade to meet climate goals

Create Family-Wage Job Opportunities — The Legislature should take proactive steps to create job opportunities in industries with good wages, supportive benefits, and strong labor protections, while meeting the infrastructure needs of Washington families and businesses. By passing a significant transportation investment package (SB 5974 and 5975, Liias / HB 2118 and 2119, Fey), supporting new decarbonized aluminum jobs, and extending job-supporting tax incentives for data centers (HB 1846, Berg) and film industry jobs (SB 5760, Wellman / HB 1914, Riccelli). Get details.

SB 5974 passed the Senate, 29-20, and an emended version passed the House, 54-43. SB 5975 passed the Senate, 29-20, and an amended version passed the House, 55-40. Both bills are in conference committee for reconciliation. HB 1846 (data centers) passed the House, 68-30. HB 1914 (film industry) passed the House, 93-3. Both are now in Senate Ways & Means. None of these bills are subject to cutoff deadlines. 

The Stand (Feb. 9) — Coalition backs ‘Move Ahead Washington’ — Labor, business, and environmental interests support a bold transportation package.

Raises for Essential Public Service Workers

The Legislature should invest in the workforce that has provided essential public services through-out the pandemic. It can do this by funding mid-contract MOUs for state employees, higher ed COLAs, and Corrections interest arbitration; correcting K-12 COLAs; and supporting behavioral health, child care, and home care workers. (Get details.)

These are all budget-related and not subject to legislative cutoff deadlines.

The WSLC is also supporting the following priority bills

Bus Driver Benefit Parity — SB 5326 (Robinson) would ensure that contracted K12 bus drivers have quality health care.

SB 5326 passed Senate Ways and Means but failed to get a floor vote before cutoff.

Buy Clean, Buy Fair — HB 1103 (Duerr) and SB 5366 (Stanford) would require state contractors to track the labor and environmental impact of materials.

Both HB 1103 and SB 5366 failed to advance and missed cutoff.

Repetitive Stress Injuries — HB 1837 (Bronoske) eliminates the prohibition on the state Department of Labor and Industries from issuing rules to prevent repetitive stress injuries.

HB 1837 passed the House, 50-48, passed Senate Labor, Commerce & Tribal Affairs, but failed to get a floor vote before cutoff.

Hanford workers’ compensation — SB 5890 (Keiser) makes a technical correction to clarify eligibility for the presumption for workers’ compensation for all personnel working at a radiological hazardous waste facility.

SB 5890 passed the Senate, 32-19, passed the House, 68-27, and now heads to Gov. Inslee’s desk for signature.

Pension Improvements — Provide benefit improvements for LEOFF (HB 1701, Bergquist / SB 5652, Conway), PERS 1 (HB 1721, Stokesbary / SB 5676, Conway), and PSERS (HB 1669, Stokesbary / SB 5748, Schoesler) plans.

HB 1701, SB 5676 and HB 1669 all passed both the House and Senate without opposition and now head to Gov. Inslee’s desk for signature.

Paid Family Leave Adjustments — SB 5649 (Robinson) makes technical fixes to improve PFMLI for people who apply for benefits.

SB 5649 passed the Senate, 42-7, passed the House, 96-2, and returns to the Senate for concurrence with amendments.

The Stand (Feb. 2) — Improve, invest in critical leave program (by EOI’s Marilyn Watkins) — Paid Family & Medical Leave has improved the health and economic resilience of Washington families.

Prevailing Wage for Workers with Disabilities — SB 5763 (Randall) would end ability-based discrimination in prevailing wage.

SB 5763 passed the Senate, 42-5, passed the House, 86-9, and now heads to Gov. Inslee’s desk for signature.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) — SB 5847 (Liias) would expand awareness of and increase access to PSLF for public employees.

SB 5847 passed the Senate, 37-12, passed the House, 66-32, and now heads to Gov. Inslee’s desk for signature.

The Stand (Jan. 24) — SB 5847 would improve access to Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Rail Worker Sick Leave — SB 5065 (Kuderer) would protect rail workers from retaliation when they need to use sick leave.

SB 5065 failed to advance before cutoff.

The Stand (Feb. 8) — Pass Safe Leave Act for railroad workers

UI Reporting Enforcement — HB 1474 (Chopp) would put teeth in to our unemployment insurance wage and hour reporting laws to fight employer fraud.

HB 1474 failed to advance before cutoff. 

UI Voluntary Quits — HB 1486 (Berry) and SB 5064 (Saldaña) would support caregivers on unemployment insurance who have limited availability to take jobs.

Both failed to advance before cutoff.

WACares Improvements — HB 1732 (Sullivan) and HB 1733 (Paul) improves WACares, the new long-term services and supports program.

HB 1732 passed the House, 91-6; passed the Senate, 46-3; and was signed into law by Gov. Inslee. HB 1733 passed the House, 67-29; passed the Senate, 38-11; and was signed into law by Gov. Inslee.

Workers’ Compensation IME Reporting — HB 1763 (Bronoske) and SB 5627 (Stanford) would allow injured workers to record their independent medical exams.

Both failed to advance before cutoff.

The WSLC and its affiliates will also work toward advancing several other issues in 2022, either through legislation or the budget. These include:

● Allowing legislative staff to join together to form unions if they wish to do so — Both HB 1806 (Ricelli) and companion SB 5773 (Stanford) failed to advance and missed cutoff. HB 2124 (Ricelli) would create a labor relations office, a timeline for bargaining, and requires interim work for legislation next year to grant these workers bargaining rights. It passed the House, 56-41-1, and is in Senate Ways & Means.

● Improving language access in schools — HB 1153 (Orwall) passed the House, 83-13, passed the Senate, 43-5, and returns to the House for concurrence with Senate amendments.

● Securing benefits similar to unemployment insurance for undocumented workers — SB 5438 (Saldaña) failed to advance from Senate Labor, Commerce & Tribal Affairs.

In addition to this 2022 Workers’ Recovery Agenda, the WSLC is supporting other legislation championed by its affiliated unions and a range of issues to address economic opportunity and justice. The WSLC is also continuing to work with community partners to make housing more affordable and secure, to make health care more accessible, and to defend against attacks on workers’ rights.

Get more information about these bills and issues in the State Government section of The Stand and the Legislative Advocacy section of the WSLC website.