PRIA Logo™
WashingtonHB 18792025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Concerning meal and rest breaks for hospital workers.

Sponsored By: Brianna Thomas (Democratic)

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

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

Stronger break protections for hospital staff

Beginning January 1, 2026, hospitals must schedule your rest breaks during each work period. They must give you uninterrupted meal and rest breaks. Breaks can be interrupted only for unforeseeable emergencies or an unforeseeable clinical situation, as determined by the employee, where taking a break could cause life‑threatening harm. These rules cover hourly or union hospital staff who do direct patient care or clinical services.

Who is covered and when it starts

An employee is hourly or union hospital staff who do direct patient care or clinical services. An employer is a hospital licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW. These rules take effect January 1, 2026.

Flexible break options for hospital workers

Beginning January 1, 2026, you and your hospital can agree to combine meal and rest breaks. You can cancel this at any time. If you must stay on duty, the combined time is paid; if released, meal time is unpaid and rest time is paid. You may also sign a voluntary written or electronic waiver to skip a meal in shifts under 8 hours, or skip the second or third meal in 8‑hour or longer shifts if you take at least one meal. Waivers must be recorded in the employer’s system, agreed before the first shift used, and can be revoked anytime. Valid waivers do not count as missed breaks.

Hospitals must track and report breaks

Beginning January 1, 2026, hospitals must let staff record any missed meal or rest breaks and keep those records. They must file a report within 30 days after each quarter showing missed breaks, valid waivers, and total required breaks. Hospitals listed in RCW 70.41.420(7)(b)(iv) start reporting July 1, 2026.

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

  • Brianna Thomas

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Alex Ramel

    Democratic • House

  • Beth Doglio

    Democratic • House

  • Gerry Pollet

    Democratic • House

  • Joe Fitzgibbon

    Democratic • House

  • Julio Cortes

    Democratic • House

  • Lisa Parshley

    Democratic • House

  • Liz Berry

    Democratic • House

  • Mary Fosse

    Democratic • House

  • Natasha Hill

    Democratic • House

  • Sharon Tomiko Santos

    Democratic • House

  • Shaun Scott

    Democratic • House

  • Tarra Simmons

    Democratic • House

  • Timm Ormsby

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 143 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/8/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 48 • No: 0 • Other: 1

House vote • 3/4/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 95 • No: 0 • Other: 3

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter 101, 2025 Laws.

    4/21/2025House

  2. Governor signed.

    4/21/2025legislature

  3. Effective date 1/1/2026.

    4/21/2025House

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    4/16/2025legislature

  5. President signed.

    4/14/2025legislature

  6. Speaker signed.

    4/11/2025legislature

  7. Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.

    4/8/2025House

  8. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    4/8/2025House

  9. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    4/4/2025House

  10. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    3/25/2025House

  11. Minority; do not pass.

    3/21/2025House

  12. LC - Majority; do pass.

    3/21/2025House

  13. First reading, referred to Labor & Commerce.

    3/6/2025House

  14. Third reading, passed; yeas, 95; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 3.

    3/4/2025House

  15. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/4/2025House

  16. 1st substitute bill substituted.

    3/4/2025House

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

    2/28/2025House

  18. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    2/20/2025House

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

    2/18/2025House

  20. LAWS - Executive action taken by committee.

    2/18/2025House

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

    2/7/2025House

  22. Introduced

    2/7/2025House

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