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WashingtonSB 50412025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Concerning unemployment insurance benefits for striking or lockout workers.

Sponsored By: Marcus Riccelli (Democratic)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Striking workers face tighter unemployment limits

Beginning January 1, 2026, you are disqualified from unemployment for any week your job loss is due to a strike at your last workplace. After that disqualification ends, benefits are payable for no more than six calendar weeks tied to the strike. Weeks you are paid that are not caused by the strike do not count toward the six-week cap. These strike rules end December 31, 2035.

Repay UI if you get back pay

Beginning January 1, 2026, if you got unemployment for strike weeks and later receive retroactive wages for those same weeks, the agency must assess an overpayment and recover those benefits. The agency can also recheck some past benefit allowances and recover money paid in error within two years after your benefit year. If a court later rules the strike was prohibited, any benefits paid must be repaid. These repayment and redetermination rules expire December 31, 2035.

Employers charged for strike benefits, some relief

Beginning January 1, 2026, when benefits are paid due to a strike at your premises and you are a contribution‑paying employer, those benefits are charged to your experience account. The department may evaluate and notify you if you can make a voluntary payment to buy down future rate impacts. If strike benefits are issued, the agency must also tell you about mediation services from the state commission. These provisions end December 31, 2035.

Fees and fund for private dispute help

If federal mediation help is impracticable or unavailable, the state commission may charge private employers and unions a fee for dispute services. The law creates a state account to hold these fees and spend them on running the services. A prior rule on tender when funds are exhausted is repealed.

Sunset and reports on strike unemployment rules

The strike‑related unemployment changes take effect January 1, 2026 and end December 31, 2035. The Employment Security Department must report by December 31, 2026 and every year through 2035 on strike numbers and trust fund impacts, including benefits paid and employer rate changes. The reporting program ends January 1, 2036.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Marcus Riccelli

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Annette Cleveland

    Democratic • Senate

  • Bob Hasegawa

    Democratic • Senate

  • Claire Wilson

    Democratic • Senate

  • Derek Stanford

    Democratic • Senate

  • Jamie Pedersen

    Democratic • Senate

  • Javier Valdez

    Democratic • Senate

  • Jesse Salomon

    Democratic • Senate

  • Jessica Bateman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lisa Wellman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Liz Lovelett

    Democratic • Senate

  • Manka Dhingra

    Democratic • Senate

  • Noel Frame

    Democratic • Senate

  • Rebecca Saldaña

    Democratic • Senate

  • Steve Conway

    Democratic • Senate

  • T'wina Nobles

    Democratic • Senate

  • Member 14205

    House

  • Member 27504

    House

  • Yasmin Trudeau

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 368 • No: 307

House vote • 4/25/2025

Adoption as Recommended by the Conference Committee

Yes: 53 • No: 43

House vote • 4/25/2025

Final Passage as Recommended by the Conference Committee

Yes: 51 • No: 45 • Other: 2

House vote • 4/25/2025

Motion to Immediately Transmit to Senate

Yes: 55 • No: 41 • Other: 2

Senate vote • 4/25/2025

Final Passage as Recommended by Conference Committee

Yes: 27 • No: 21

House vote • 4/23/2025

Grant Conference

Yes: 53 • No: 45

Senate vote • 4/22/2025

Do Not Concur in House Amendment(s)

Yes: 25 • No: 23

House vote • 4/12/2025

Final Passage as Amended by the House

Yes: 52 • No: 43 • Other: 3

Senate vote • 3/7/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 28 • No: 21

Senate vote • 3/7/2025

148 Braun Pg 2 Ln 13

Yes: 24 • No: 25

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 7/27/2025*.

    5/19/2025Senate

  2. Chapter 352, 2025 Laws.

    5/19/2025Senate

  3. Governor signed.

    5/19/2025legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    4/27/2025legislature

  5. President signed.

    4/26/2025legislature

  6. Speaker signed.

    4/26/2025legislature

  7. Passed final passage as recommended by conference committee; yeas, 51; nays, 45; absent, 0; excused, 2.

    4/25/2025Senate

  8. Passed final passage as recommended by conference committee; yeas, 27; nays, 21; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    4/25/2025Senate

  9. Conference committee report adopted.

    4/25/2025Senate

  10. Conference committee report; received 10:10 AM 4/24/2025.

    4/24/2025Senate

  11. Conference committee report; received 9:42 AM 4/24/2025.

    4/24/2025Senate

  12. Conference committee appointed. Representatives Berry, Doglio, Schmidt.

    4/23/2025Senate

  13. Conference committee request granted.

    4/23/2025Senate

  14. Conference committee appointed. Senators Saldaña, Riccelli, MacEwen.

    4/22/2025Senate

  15. Conference Requested.

    4/22/2025Senate

  16. Senate refuses to concur in the House amendments.

    4/22/2025House

  17. Third reading, passed; yeas, 52; nays, 43; absent, 0; excused, 3.

    4/12/2025Senate

  18. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    4/12/2025Senate

  19. Floor amendment(s) adopted.

    4/12/2025Senate

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

    4/10/2025Senate

  21. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    4/8/2025Senate

  22. Minority; without recommendation.

    4/7/2025Senate

  23. Minority; do not pass.

    4/7/2025Senate

  24. APP - Majority; do pass.

    4/7/2025Senate

  25. APP - Executive action taken by committee.

    4/7/2025Senate

Bill Text

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