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WashingtonSB 60582025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Adding discretion to wage enforcement actions.

Sponsored By: Rebecca Saldaña (Democratic)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Workers recover wages plus 1% interest

The labor department can order your employer to pay all unpaid wages plus 1% interest per month from the first day the wages were owed. It does not order wages or interest for amounts older than three years before you filed your complaint. For complaints filed on or after 2024-01-01, any settlement offered and accepted without a citation must include 1% monthly interest, unless you ask to reduce or waive it. The clock to file a civil lawsuit stops when you file with the department and starts again after a final decision, a written resolution or termination, or a notice that your complaint is not accepted.

Stronger wage penalties and relief options

For willful wage violations, fines are at least $1,000 or 10% of unpaid wages, up to $20,000. The department must waive the penalty if you are not a repeat willful violator and you pay all ordered wages and interest within 10 business days of receiving the citation. The director can also reduce or cancel penalties any time after all wages and interest are paid. No penalty applies if you reasonably relied on official rules or the department’s written guidance. If you pay and the worker accepts all wages and interest the department ordered, that settles those issues and blocks later lawsuits. Collected penalties go to the state supplemental pension fund.

Faster, clearer wage complaint process

The department can choose whether to open an investigation. It must publish how it prioritizes cases, including harm, severity, number of workers affected, and retaliation risk. After accepting a complaint, it must issue a citation or a compliance decision within 60 days, unless it sends both sides written notice of a good-cause extension and its length. Final notices must be served to both employer and employee by a tracked or confirmed delivery method.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Rebecca Saldaña

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Manka Dhingra

    Democratic • Senate

  • Steve Conway

    Democratic • Senate

  • T'wina Nobles

    Democratic • Senate

  • Member 14205

    House

  • Yasmin Trudeau

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 189 • No: 2

Senate vote • 3/10/2026

Final Passage as Amended by the House

Yes: 46 • No: 1 • Other: 2

House vote • 3/4/2026

Final Passage as Amended by the House

Yes: 96 • No: 0 • Other: 2

Senate vote • 2/10/2026

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 47 • No: 1 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 6/11/2026.

    3/24/2026Senate

  2. Chapter 176, 2026 Laws.

    3/24/2026Senate

  3. Governor signed.

    3/24/2026legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    3/12/2026legislature

  5. President signed.

    3/11/2026legislature

  6. Speaker signed.

    3/11/2026legislature

  7. Senate concurred in House amendments.

    3/10/2026House

  8. Passed final passage; yeas, 46; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 2.

    3/10/2026Senate

  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 96; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 2.

    3/4/2026Senate

  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/4/2026Senate

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

    3/4/2026Senate

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

    3/3/2026Senate

  13. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    2/25/2026Senate

  14. LAWS - Executive action taken by committee.

    2/24/2026Senate

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

    2/24/2026Senate

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

    2/12/2026Senate

  17. Third reading, passed; yeas, 47; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 1.

    2/10/2026Senate

  18. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    2/10/2026Senate

  19. Floor amendment(s) adopted.

    2/10/2026Senate

  20. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    2/4/2026Senate

  21. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    1/26/2026Senate

  22. Minority; do not pass.

    1/23/2026Senate

  23. LC - Majority; do pass.

    1/23/2026Senate

  24. First reading, referred to Labor & Commerce.

    1/12/2026Senate

  25. Prefiled for introduction.

    1/9/2026Senate

Bill Text

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