All Roll Calls
Yes: 163 • No: 122
WashingtonHB 21052025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Concerning immigrant worker protections.
Sponsored By: Lillian Ortiz-Self (Democratic)
Became Law
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Stronger protections during I-9 reviews
Beginning October 1, 2026, employers may not retaliate against workers for using rights in this law. They cannot cut pay, reduce hours, change schedules, fire, or threaten based on immigration status, except when required by law. Employers are not required to do I-9 self-audits. If they choose to audit, they must follow anti-discrimination and anti-retaliation laws and any union agreement. Employers also cannot add extra work-authorization checks beyond federal rules, and this law does not stop them from following E-Verify or other federal verification rules.
Workers can sue and collect damages
Beginning October 1, 2026, workers and related groups can sue in superior court to stop violations. Courts must award actual damages or at least 40 times the Washington hourly minimum wage per plaintiff per violation, plus attorneys’ fees and costs. The Attorney General can also investigate and sue. For each missed notice, courts order $500 in damages to the AG, or double that if willful. Personal information in complaints and investigations stays confidential, and courts may reduce AG damages if the violation was inadvertent, caused no harm, and was fixed quickly in good faith.
Notice to workers about I-9 checks
Beginning October 1, 2026, employers must tell each worker in writing within five business days when they receive a federal I-9 inspection notice. The notice must include a copy of the federal notice, the agency name, the date received, the records sought, and contact info for a statewide immigrant/refugee rights group. It must be posted until the inspection ends and sent by hand, mail with proof, email with proof, or text with proof, in English and the five most common non-English languages. Within five business days after inspection results arrive, employers must give each affected worker a copy of the results, explain any duties and problems, list correction deadlines and meeting times, and state the right to representation, in the language most used with that worker. Employers must hide other workers’ personal information.
State poster and model I-9 notices
By September 1, 2026, the Attorney General publishes a workplace poster, model notice forms, and guidance on limiting access to nonpublic areas and records. Materials are in English and the five most common non-English languages. Employers must post the AG poster in a conspicuous place starting October 1, 2026. The AG conducts outreach to businesses and communities through October 1, 2027.
Law depends on 2026 budget funding
This law takes effect only if the state budget provides specific funding by June 30, 2026. If that funding is not in the omnibus appropriations act by that date, the law is null and void.
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Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Lillian Ortiz-Self
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
Alex Ramel
Democratic • House
Beth Doglio
Democratic • House
Brianna Thomas
Democratic • House
Chipalo Street
Democratic • House
Chris Stearns
Democratic • House
Cindy Ryu
Democratic • House
Darya Farivar
Democratic • House
Davina Duerr
Democratic • House
Edwin Obras
Democratic • House
Gerry Pollet
Democratic • House
Janice Zahn
Democratic • House
Joe Fitzgibbon
Democratic • House
Julia Reed
Democratic • House
Julio Cortes
Democratic • House
Kristine Reeves
Democratic • House
Lauren Davis
Democratic • House
Lisa Callan
Democratic • House
Lisa Parshley
Democratic • House
Liz Berry
Democratic • House
Mary Fosse
Democratic • House
Mia Gregerson
Democratic • House
Monica Jurado Stonier
Democratic • House
My-Linh Thai
Democratic • House
Natasha Hill
Democratic • House
Nicole Macri
Democratic • House
Osman Salahuddin
Democratic • House
Roger Goodman
Democratic • House
Sharlett Mena
Democratic • House
Sharon Tomiko Santos
Democratic • House
Sharon Wylie
Democratic • House
Shaun Scott
Democratic • House
Steve Bergquist
Democratic • House
Strom Peterson
Democratic • House
Tarra Simmons
Democratic • House
Timm Ormsby
Democratic • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/11/2026
Final Passage as Amended by the Senate
Yes: 58 • No: 38 • Other: 2
Senate vote • 3/5/2026
885 Gildon Pg 7 Ln 10
Yes: 22 • No: 25 • Other: 2
Senate vote • 3/5/2026
3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate
Yes: 27 • No: 21 • Other: 1
House vote • 2/13/2026
3rd Reading & Final Passage
Yes: 56 • No: 38 • Other: 4
Actions Timeline
Effective date 6/11/2026*.
3/30/2026HouseChapter 240, 2026 Laws.
3/30/2026HouseGovernor signed.
3/30/2026legislatureSpeaker signed.
3/12/2026legislaturePresident signed.
3/12/2026legislatureDelivered to Governor.
3/12/2026legislaturePassed final passage; yeas, 58; nays, 38; absent, 0; excused, 2.
3/11/2026HouseHouse concurred in Senate amendments.
3/11/2026HouseThird reading, passed; yeas, 27; nays, 21; absent, 0; excused, 1.
3/5/2026HouseRules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
3/5/2026HouseCommittee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.
3/5/2026HousePlaced on second reading by Rules Committee.
3/3/2026HousePassed to Rules Committee for second reading.
3/2/2026HouseMinority; do not pass.
3/2/2026HouseWM - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).
3/2/2026HouseReferred to Ways & Means.
2/23/2026HouseMinority; do not pass.
2/20/2026HouseAnd refer to Ways & Means.
2/20/2026HouseLC - Majority; do pass.
2/20/2026HouseFirst reading, referred to Labor & Commerce.
2/17/2026HouseThird reading, passed; yeas, 56; nays, 38; absent, 0; excused, 4.
2/13/2026HouseRules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
2/13/2026House2nd substitute bill substituted.
2/13/2026HouseRules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
2/11/2026HouseReferred to Rules 2 Review.
2/9/2026House
Bill Text
Session Law
4/1/2026
Bill as Passed Legislature
3/12/2026
Second Substitute
2/10/2026
Substitute Bill
1/28/2026
Original Bill
1/12/2026
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