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WashingtonSB 53062025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Concerning the purchase of pension service credit for authorized leaves of absence.

Sponsored By: Jeff Holy (Republican)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Buy back credit for unpaid or part‑time leave

You can buy up to two years of LEOFF Plan 2 service credit for unpaid, employer‑authorized leave over your career. You must pay the employer, employee, and state contributions, plus interest, within five years after you return to work or before you retire. If your employer authorizes part‑time work with a part‑time leave, you may buy the missing credit on the same terms, and you may not hold other jobs with that employer during that leave. If you miss the deadline, you can still buy up to two years by paying the amount in RCW 41.50.165(2) before you retire. Your payment is based on the average of your basic salary when the leave began and when you returned, or if you retire instead, your start‑of‑leave salary adjusted for normal increases. If you get workers’ compensation (Title 51) and are not getting a LEOFF Plan 2 benefit, the law treats you as on unpaid authorized leave for these rules.

Military and disaster service credit and survivor help

If you leave to serve in the U.S. uniformed services, you get up to five years of LEOFF Plan 2 service credit. To qualify, apply to return within 90 days of an honorable discharge and pay employee contributions within five years of returning or before you retire. If you miss that, you can still buy credit by paying the amount in RCW 41.50.165(2) before retirement. If your service was during a period of war and you show proof before retirement, you can get up to five years free and refunds of earlier payments. If you die or become totally incapacitated while serving in the uniformed services, or while serving with FEMA or the National Disaster Medical System (for deaths on or after March 22, 2014), survivors can apply or you can receive credit up to the date of death or separation. Contributions are based on what you would have earned if not on leave, or your prior year’s pay if that cannot be estimated. After you pay or show wartime proof, the department sets your credit and bills your employer and the state for their shares plus interest.

Keep pension credit on paid and union leave

When your employer authorizes paid leave, you keep earning LEOFF Plan 2 retirement service credit. If you take paid leave to serve as an elected union official and your employer is reimbursed under a contract that keeps your seniority, that time also counts. The basic salary used for pension reporting during that leave cannot be higher than the highest‑paid job in that contract.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jeff Holy

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Deborah Krishnadasan

    Democratic • Senate

  • Jessica Bateman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Marcus Riccelli

    Democratic • Senate

  • Steve Conway

    Democratic • Senate

  • T'wina Nobles

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 145 • No: 0

House vote • 4/9/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 97 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Senate vote • 2/19/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 48 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 7/27/2025.

    4/22/2025Senate

  2. Chapter 112, 2025 Laws.

    4/22/2025Senate

  3. Governor signed.

    4/22/2025legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    4/17/2025legislature

  5. Speaker signed.

    4/15/2025legislature

  6. President signed.

    4/14/2025legislature

  7. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    4/9/2025Senate

  8. Third reading, passed; yeas, 97; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.

    4/9/2025Senate

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

    4/8/2025Senate

  10. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    3/26/2025Senate

  11. APP - Majority; do pass.

    3/20/2025Senate

  12. APP - Executive action taken by committee.

    3/20/2025Senate

  13. First reading, referred to Appropriations.

    2/21/2025Senate

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

    2/19/2025Senate

  15. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    2/19/2025Senate

  16. Placed on second reading consent calendar.

    2/12/2025Senate

  17. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    2/7/2025Senate

  18. WM - Majority; do pass.

    2/6/2025Senate

  19. First reading, referred to Ways & Means.

    1/16/2025Senate

  20. Introduced

    1/16/2025Senate

Bill Text

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