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WashingtonSB 55252025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Concerning employment loss due to businesses closing or mass layoffs.

Sponsored By: Annette Cleveland (Democratic)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Cash pay if notice is missed

If your employer fails to give the required notice, you can collect up to 60 days of back pay plus the value of lost benefits. Pay is figured at not less than the higher of your average regular rate over the last three years or your final rate of pay. The amount is reduced by wages already paid, voluntary payments, payments under the federal WARN Act, and employer payments to third parties for you. You, your union, or the Department can sue within three years, and courts may award attorneys’ fees. Courts may reduce penalties for employers that made a reasonable, good‑faith investigation, but they cannot block the layoff or closing.

60-day layoff notice for large employers

The law requires employers with 50 or more workers in Washington to give 60 days’ written notice before a business closing or mass layoff. Part-time workers do not count toward the 50, but they still receive notice. State and local governments are not covered. A mass layoff means 50+ job losses at one site in 30 days; an employment loss includes a layoff over six months or a reduction in hours of more than 50% in any month within six months. The notice goes to the Employment Security Department and workers or their union, and must include dates, site details, contacts, job titles, and the names of affected workers. If dates change or a short layoff (three months or less) is extended, the employer must send an updated notice when the extension is foreseeable; some extensions count from the first day. In a sale, the seller gives required notices up to the sale date, and the buyer gives notices after.

Daily fines for skipping layoff notice

An employer that fails to notify the state may owe a civil penalty of up to $500 for each day of violation. The penalty does not apply if the employer pays all amounts owed to affected workers within three weeks of ordering the layoff, relocation, or termination. Any federal WARN civil penalty paid counts toward this state penalty. Penalties go to the state general fund.

Notice exceptions and protections on leave

The law lists times when the 60‑day notice can be shorter or not required. These include actively seeking capital or a buyer, sudden business events outside the employer’s control, natural disasters, and certain short‑term or union‑referral construction jobs. If an exception ends, the employer must give notice for the remaining days, and the Department can require documents to prove the exception. At the same time, workers on Washington paid family or medical leave (Title 50A) generally cannot be included in a mass layoff. That protection does not apply when the unforeseeable‑business, natural‑disaster, or construction exceptions listed above apply.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Annette Cleveland

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Bob Hasegawa

    Democratic • Senate

  • Javier Valdez

    Democratic • Senate

  • Manka Dhingra

    Democratic • Senate

  • Marcus Riccelli

    Democratic • Senate

  • Rebecca Saldaña

    Democratic • Senate

  • Steve Conway

    Democratic • Senate

  • T'wina Nobles

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 118 • No: 76

Senate vote • 4/22/2025

Final Passage as Amended by the House

Yes: 29 • No: 19

House vote • 4/9/2025

Final Passage as Amended by the House

Yes: 59 • No: 38 • Other: 1

Senate vote • 3/4/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 30 • No: 19

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 7/27/2025.

    5/13/2025Senate

  2. Chapter 277, 2025 Laws.

    5/13/2025Senate

  3. Governor signed.

    5/13/2025legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    4/27/2025legislature

  5. Speaker signed.

    4/26/2025legislature

  6. President signed.

    4/25/2025legislature

  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 29; nays, 19; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    4/22/2025Senate

  8. Senate concurred in House amendments.

    4/22/2025House

  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 59; nays, 38; absent, 0; excused, 1.

    4/9/2025Senate

  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    4/9/2025Senate

  11. Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.

    4/9/2025Senate

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

    4/8/2025Senate

  13. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    4/1/2025Senate

  14. LAWS - Executive action taken by committee.

    3/28/2025Senate

  15. Minority; do not pass.

    3/28/2025Senate

  16. LAWS - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

    3/28/2025Senate

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

    3/6/2025Senate

  18. Third reading, passed; yeas, 30; nays, 19; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    3/4/2025Senate

  19. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/4/2025Senate

  20. Floor amendment(s) adopted.

    3/4/2025Senate

  21. 1st substitute bill substituted.

    3/4/2025Senate

  22. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    2/26/2025Senate

  23. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    2/18/2025Senate

  24. Minority; do not pass.

    2/14/2025Senate

  25. LC - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

    2/14/2025Senate

Bill Text

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