All Roll Calls
Yes: 240 • No: 3
WashingtonSB 54202025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET
Ensuring access to state benefits and opportunities for veterans, uniformed service members, and military spouses.
Sponsored By: John Lovick (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.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Military service counts toward public pensions
State and city employees get clearer credit for time spent in military or other uniformed service. State employees are treated as on military leave and, after 25 years of total credited service, may add up to five years of that service. If needed, they must restore withdrawn retirement contributions within five years of returning. Survivors and totally incapacitated members can receive credit with required proof. Cities in the city retirement system choose a prior‑service pension rate of 1.33%, 1.00%, or 0.667% of final pay; early‑retirement reductions apply. City plans may credit up to five years of military or uniformed service during a national emergency with proof such as an honorable discharge, and may require added payments or offsets for employees coming from acquired private employers. The law also clarifies that U.S. Public Health Service and NOAA officer corps count as uniformed services in city retirement rules.
More pension credit for police, firefighters
Police officers and firefighters can count up to five years of military or other uniformed service toward their pensions. Firefighters may add wartime or peacetime service if their discharge was not dishonorable. Police must have been department members when they entered service, have an honorable or equivalent discharge, and pay the required contributions for the time away. The law recognizes service in the U.S. Public Health Service and NOAA officer corps as uniformed service for this credit.
Hiring boosts for veterans and spouses
The law adds hiring help across public and private jobs. On state exams, veterans who served during a war and do not get military retirement get 10% added to a passing score. Other veterans and military retirees get 5%. State employees called to active duty get a one-time 5% boost for their first promotion. Public employers must give a hiring preference to qualified veterans, certain widows or widowers, and spouses of active-duty members or veterans with a service‑connected permanent and total disability. Private employers may choose to prefer these groups, and doing so does not violate state equal employment laws.
Stronger job protections for service members
Service members who return to work are treated like they were on leave. They keep seniority and can rejoin insurance, vacation, retirement, and other benefits. They cannot be fired without cause for one year after returning. The law also spells out who counts as uniformed services and service members, including National Guard members in or living in Washington and the U.S. Public Health Service and NOAA officer corps.
Licenses protected for service members, spouses
Professional licenses stay in force while you serve. If your license was valid when you entered service, the board keeps it active. You can renew it by applying within six months after a qualifying discharge and paying the renewal fee. A military spouse or registered domestic partner can place a license in military spouse inactive status while the service member is stationed outside Washington. The spouse can reactivate the license within six months of returning by applying, paying the current renewal fee, and meeting renewal conditions.
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
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
John Lovick
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
Keith Wagoner
Republican • Senate
Mike Chapman
Democratic • Senate
Perry Dozier
Republican • Senate
T'wina Nobles
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/9/2026
Final Passage as Amended by the House
Yes: 48 • No: 1
House vote • 3/5/2026
Final Passage as Amended by the House
Yes: 96 • No: 0 • Other: 2
Senate vote • 1/21/2026
Final Passage
Yes: 48 • No: 1
Senate vote • 3/6/2025
3rd Reading & Final Passage
Yes: 48 • No: 1
Actions Timeline
Effective date 6/11/2026.
3/24/2026SenateChapter 207, 2026 Laws.
3/24/2026SenateGovernor signed.
3/24/2026legislatureDelivered to Governor.
3/12/2026legislatureSpeaker signed.
3/11/2026legislaturePresident signed.
3/10/2026legislaturePassed final passage; yeas, 48; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 0.
3/9/2026SenateSenate concurred in House amendments.
3/9/2026HouseThird reading, passed; yeas, 96; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 2.
3/5/2026SenateRules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
3/5/2026SenateCommittee amendment(s) adopted as amended.
3/5/2026SenateRules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
3/4/2026SenateReferred to Rules 2 Review.
3/2/2026SenateAPP - Executive action taken by committee.
3/2/2026SenateAPP - Majority; do pass with amendment(s) but without amendment(s) by Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans.
3/2/2026SenateReferred to Appropriations.
2/25/2026SenateTEDV - Executive action taken by committee.
2/24/2026SenateTEDV - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).
2/24/2026SenateFirst reading, referred to Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans.
1/26/2026SenateThird reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 0.
1/21/2026SenatePlaced on third reading by Rules Committee.
1/13/2026SenateBy resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
1/12/2026SenateBy resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading.
4/27/2025SenateRules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
4/10/2025SenateReferred to Rules 2 Review.
4/8/2025Senate
Bill Text
Session Law
3/31/2026
Bill as Passed Legislature
3/12/2026
Original Bill
1/22/2025
Related Bills
SB 6231 — Removing a tax exemption for the replacement of equipment for data centers.
SB 6260 — Implementing efficiencies and programming changes in public education.
SB 6228 — Removing a tax exemption for the warehousing and reselling of prescription drugs.
HB 2034 — Concerning termination and restatement of plan 1 of the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system.
HB 2689 — Concerning the working connections child care program.
HB 2487 — Concerning taxes imposed on insurers operating within the state.
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