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WashingtonHB 11732025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Concerning wages for journeypersons in high-hazard facilities.

Sponsored By: Dan Bronoske (Democratic)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Higher pay floor for skilled journeypersons

Beginning January 1, 2026, at high-hazard facilities, skilled journeypersons must be paid at least the 75th-percentile hourly wage for their job and area. The rate comes from the state Employment Security Department’s latest data. Pay must match typical local wages and never drop below that 75th-percentile floor. Workers in apprenticeable trades who are not registered apprentices still get the skilled journeyperson rate for covered work. Prevailing wage on public works may guide pay, but it is not required. This rate is a wage-payment rule, so normal wage-claim remedies apply. You count as skilled if you finished an approved apprenticeship or have equivalent on-the-job hours.

Skilled staffing and safety at high-hazard sites

Beginning January 1, 2026, contractors at high-hazard facilities must use a skilled and trained workforce. All on-site workers must be registered apprentices or skilled journeypersons, and crews must meet graduation and approved advanced safety training rules. Employers must give apprentices written notice of their occupation and wage rates and keep a copy in the file. Apprentices may only do work in their registered occupation. Breaking the staffing or training rules can trigger violations under state safety law (chapter 49.17 RCW).

Which high-hazard site work is covered

Beginning January 1, 2026, the law clarifies who is covered. It sets your trade label using state scope-of-work rules or standard job classifications. It defines apprenticeable jobs by the state’s approved apprenticeship programs. It excludes some activities from “on-site work,” such as ship or rail car support; environmental testing; certain OEM warranty repair or maintenance; industrial cleaning not tied to construction; professional safety services; nonconstruction catalyst handling; chemical purging and cleaning; refinery by-product recovery; inspection not tied to construction; and work that is not in an apprenticeable occupation. These excluded activities are not covered by the chapter’s wage and workforce rules.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Dan Bronoske

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Alex Ramel

    Democratic • House

  • Debra Lekanoff

    Democratic • House

  • Edwin Obras

    Democratic • House

  • Gerry Pollet

    Democratic • House

  • Greg Nance

    Democratic • House

  • Julia Reed

    Democratic • House

  • Lillian Ortiz-Self

    Democratic • House

  • Liz Berry

    Democratic • House

  • Mary Fosse

    Democratic • House

  • Mia Gregerson

    Democratic • House

  • Natasha Hill

    Democratic • House

  • Roger Goodman

    Democratic • House

  • Tarra Simmons

    Democratic • House

  • Timm Ormsby

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 215 • No: 25

House vote • 4/17/2025

Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Yes: 89 • No: 7 • Other: 2

Senate vote • 4/10/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Yes: 44 • No: 5

House vote • 3/7/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 82 • No: 13 • Other: 3

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 1/1/2026.

    5/9/2025House

  2. Chapter 210, 2025 Laws.

    5/9/2025House

  3. Governor signed.

    5/9/2025legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    4/22/2025legislature

  5. President signed.

    4/19/2025legislature

  6. Speaker signed.

    4/18/2025legislature

  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 89; nays, 7; absent, 0; excused, 2.

    4/17/2025House

  8. House concurred in Senate amendments.

    4/17/2025House

  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 44; nays, 5; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    4/10/2025House

  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    4/10/2025House

  11. Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.

    4/10/2025House

  12. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    4/7/2025House

  13. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    3/31/2025House

  14. Minority; without recommendation.

    3/28/2025House

  15. Minority; do not pass.

    3/28/2025House

  16. LC - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

    3/28/2025House

  17. First reading, referred to Labor & Commerce.

    3/11/2025House

  18. Third reading, passed; yeas, 82; nays, 13; absent, 0; excused, 3.

    3/7/2025House

  19. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/7/2025House

  20. Floor amendment(s) adopted.

    3/7/2025House

  21. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

    3/5/2025House

  22. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    1/24/2025House

  23. LAWS - Executive action taken by committee.

    1/22/2025House

  24. Minority; do not pass.

    1/22/2025House

  25. Minority; without recommendation.

    1/22/2025House

Bill Text

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