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WashingtonHB 15242025-2026 Regular SessionHouse

Concerning workplace standards and requirements applicable to employers of isolated employees.

Sponsored By: Edwin Obras (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Safety protections for workers working alone

Beginning January 1, 2026, the law sets safety requirements for covered Washington employers of isolated workers. Covered employers include hotels, motels, retail and security guard businesses, and commercial janitorial contractors. Eligible workers are janitors, security guards, hotel or motel housekeepers, and room service attendants. They qualify if two or more coworkers or supervisors cannot respond immediately to emergencies without being summoned. They also qualify if they spend at least 50% of work hours without a coworker or supervisor present. Security guards qualify regardless of license status. Employers must adopt a sexual harassment policy and train managers, supervisors, and isolated workers. Training covers preventing sexual assault, harassment, and sex discrimination, protections for reporting legal violations, panic-button use, and management's duty to respond. Employers must provide contacts for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Washington State Human Rights Commission, and local advocacy groups. Each isolated worker must receive an easy-to-activate, carried panic button that summons immediate on-scene help and lets responders locate them. Licensed contracted security guard companies are exempt from the button requirement. Employers must keep button purchase and use records and training completion records, available to Labor and Industries on request. The department must publish button guidance for employers with 50 or fewer employees.

Employers face workplace safety enforcement penalties

Beginning January 1, 2026, Washington Labor and Industries must investigate complaints or other reasons to suspect violations of isolated-worker requirements. It must issue a citation for a confirmed violation or a closure letter when it cannot confirm one. Employers can face $1,000 for each willful violation. Repeat willful violations carry penalties of $2,000 to $10,000 each, before any waiver or reduction. Repeat status requires a final, binding willful-violation citation within three years of the most recent citation. The department may waive or reduce penalties when employers take corrective action. Employers that fail to provide investigation records on time cannot use those records to challenge the decision on appeal. Collected penalties go to the supplemental pension fund. Commercial janitorial contractors must report annually when they adopted their policy and how many managers, supervisors, and isolated workers completed training. Reports must include worker and contractor counts and total hours worked at each janitorial location. The department must share combined reporting data on request and adopt rules to implement and enforce the law. The law also states that it is void unless specific funding was provided in the omnibus appropriations act by June 30, 2025.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Edwin Obras

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Gerry Pollet

    Democratic • House

  • Julia Reed

    Democratic • House

  • Lisa Parshley

    Democratic • House

  • Liz Berry

    Democratic • House

  • Mary Fosse

    Democratic • House

  • Mia Gregerson

    Democratic • House

  • Natasha Hill

    Democratic • House

  • Nicole Macri

    Democratic • House

  • Osman Salahuddin

    Democratic • House

  • Shaun Scott

    Democratic • House

  • Strom Peterson

    Democratic • House

  • Tarra Simmons

    Democratic • House

  • Timm Ormsby

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 123 • No: 22

Senate vote • 4/4/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 37 • No: 12

House vote • 3/5/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 86 • No: 10 • Other: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 1/1/2026.

    4/16/2025House

  2. Chapter 47, 2025 Laws.

    4/16/2025House

  3. Governor signed.

    4/16/2025legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    4/11/2025legislature

  5. President signed.

    4/10/2025legislature

  6. Speaker signed.

    4/9/2025legislature

  7. Third reading, passed; yeas, 37; nays, 12; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    4/4/2025House

  8. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    4/4/2025House

  9. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    3/26/2025House

  10. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    3/24/2025House

  11. Minority; without recommendation.

    3/21/2025House

  12. Minority; do not pass.

    3/21/2025House

  13. LC - Majority; do pass.

    3/21/2025House

  14. First reading, referred to Labor & Commerce.

    3/7/2025House

  15. Third reading, passed; yeas, 86; nays, 10; absent, 0; excused, 2.

    3/5/2025House

  16. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/5/2025House

  17. 2nd substitute bill substituted.

    3/5/2025House

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

    3/4/2025House

  19. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    2/28/2025House

  20. APP - Executive action taken by committee.

    2/25/2025House

  21. Minority; without recommendation.

    2/25/2025House

  22. APP - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

    2/25/2025House

  23. Minority; do not pass.

    2/25/2025House

  24. Referred to Appropriations.

    2/12/2025House

  25. LAWS - Executive action taken by committee.

    2/7/2025House

Bill Text

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