PRIA Logo™
WashingtonHB 15332025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Allowing a specialty electrician to continue working under a valid specialty certificate of competency while enrolled in a journey level apprenticeship program.

Sponsored By: Suzanne Schmidt (Republican)

Became Law

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Use specialty certificate during apprenticeship, with limits

Beginning January 1, 2026, apprentices in single‑employer journey‑level programs may work under a valid specialty electrician certificate and stay enrolled. Employers must file a detailed quarterly report of hours worked under the specialty certificate. Each year, employers must give a notice that explains these rules, states the wage for this work, and warns it may delay your next raise. Hours worked under the specialty certificate do not count toward the journey‑level program’s required hours. Employers using this option are excused from the “reasonably continuous employment” rule if they give at least 800 countable hours each year. This applies only to programs run by a single employer’s apprenticeship committee.

Labor and Industries can suspend employers

Beginning January 1, 2026, the Department of Labor and Industries director may suspend an employer’s authorization and the continuous‑employment exemption under this law. Suspension can occur if the employer willfully or repeatedly files incorrect or incomplete quarterly attestations, or files them late. While suspended, the employer cannot use apprentices for specialty‑certificate work under this law or rely on the exemption.

Free Policy Watch

You just read the policy. Now see what it costs you.

Pick a topic. PRIA runs your household against live legislation and sends you a free personalized readout.

Pick a topic to get started

My TaxesMy HealthMy BudgetMy MoneyMy Freedom
Or tell us something more specific

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Suzanne Schmidt

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Alex Ramel

    Democratic • House

  • Julia Reed

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 240 • No: 0

House vote • 4/17/2025

Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Yes: 95 • No: 0 • Other: 3

Senate vote • 4/11/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Yes: 49 • No: 0

House vote • 3/11/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 96 • No: 0 • Other: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 1/1/2026.

    5/12/2025House

  2. Chapter 240, 2025 Laws.

    5/12/2025House

  3. Governor signed.

    5/12/2025legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    4/22/2025legislature

  5. President signed.

    4/19/2025legislature

  6. Speaker signed.

    4/18/2025legislature

  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 95; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 3.

    4/17/2025House

  8. House concurred in Senate amendments.

    4/17/2025House

  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    4/11/2025House

  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    4/11/2025House

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

    4/11/2025House

  12. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    4/7/2025House

  13. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    4/2/2025House

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

    4/1/2025House

  15. First reading, referred to Labor & Commerce.

    3/13/2025House

  16. Third reading, passed; yeas, 96; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 2.

    3/11/2025House

  17. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/11/2025House

  18. Floor amendment(s) adopted.

    3/11/2025House

  19. 1st substitute bill substituted.

    3/11/2025House

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

    2/28/2025House

  21. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    2/21/2025House

  22. LAWS - Executive action taken by committee.

    2/19/2025House

  23. LAWS - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

    2/19/2025House

  24. First reading, referred to Labor & Workplace Standards.

    1/23/2025House

  25. Introduced

    1/23/2025House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation

Take It Personal

Get Your Personalized Policy View

Take the PRIA Score to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.

Already have an account? Sign in