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WashingtonHB 17472025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Expanding protections for applicants and employees under the Washington fair chance act.

Sponsored By: Lillian Ortiz-Self (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Payments for workers harmed by violations

Maximum Fair Chance Act penalties per harmed person are $1,500 for a first violation, $3,000 for a second, and $15,000 for each later violation. Penalties generally go to that person; the attorney general keeps them when no harmed person can be identified. The attorney general can waive penalties for first-time or minor violations and provide education and a warning, so payment is not guaranteed. The attorney general can also impose sanctions, take legal action, and seek unpaid wages, damages, penalties, and reasonable fees and costs. These rules start July 1, 2026, for employers with 15 or more employees, and January 1, 2027, for smaller employers.

Fairer conviction reviews for workers

The law covers citations, arrests, related information, and adult or juvenile court records, even without a finding of guilt. Covered employers need a legitimate business reason to reject a qualified applicant or fire, suspend, discipline, demote, or deny promotion solely because of an adult conviction. They must assess and document the conduct’s seriousness, conviction numbers and types, time since conviction excluding incarceration, rehabilitation or work history, job duties, and where and how work is done. Before acting, employers must identify the record and give you at least two business days to correct or explain it or share rehabilitation and related experience; proceeding requires a written decision explaining their reasoning and review. These rules start July 1, 2026, for employers with 15 or more employees, and January 1, 2027, for smaller employers; legal exemptions apply.

Job protections for arrest and juvenile records

Covered employers generally cannot reject qualified applicants or fire, suspend, discipline, demote, or deny promotions because of arrest or juvenile conviction records. The arrest protection does not cover adult arrests when someone is on bail or released on personal recognizance pending trial. Other legal exemptions apply. The rule starts July 1, 2026, for employers with 15 or more employees, and January 1, 2027, for smaller employers.

Later record checks for job seekers

Covered Washington employers cannot seek your criminal record until you meet basic job requirements and receive a conditional offer. They cannot exclude everyone with records, post ads excluding them, or reject you for not disclosing records before an offer. Employers must immediately give you written Fair Chance Act information and the attorney general’s guide after either disclosure: a post-offer background check or your voluntary record disclosure during an interview. These rules start July 1, 2026, for employers with 15 or more employees, and January 1, 2027, for smaller employers. Legal exemptions apply.

Workers protected for reporting hiring violations

Covered employers cannot fire, suspend, discipline, demote, or deny you a promotion because of a good-faith Fair Chance Act report. This protects reports of violations or suspected violations and communications explaining the Act’s requirements. It also covers someone acting on your behalf. Protection starts July 1, 2026, for employers with 15 or more employees, and January 1, 2027, for smaller employers.

Some jobs lack fair hiring protections

Beginning July 1, 2026, Fair Chance Act exemptions include entities required to follow a securities self-regulatory organization’s rules or regulations. Employers are also exempt when hiring for federal-contract work that specifically bars people with criminal records. Applicants for these jobs do not receive the Act’s usual protections against record screening and related job decisions. The broader employer rules start January 1, 2027, for employers with fewer than 15 employees.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Lillian Ortiz-Self

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Alex Ramel

    Democratic • House

  • Darya Farivar

    Democratic • House

  • Edwin Obras

    Democratic • House

  • Gerry Pollet

    Democratic • House

  • Jamila Taylor

    Democratic • House

  • Joe Fitzgibbon

    Democratic • House

  • Julia Reed

    Democratic • House

  • Julio Cortes

    Democratic • House

  • Lisa Parshley

    Democratic • House

  • Liz Berry

    Democratic • House

  • Mary Fosse

    Democratic • House

  • Mia Gregerson

    Democratic • House

  • Natasha Hill

    Democratic • House

  • Roger Goodman

    Democratic • House

  • Shaun Scott

    Democratic • House

  • Timm Ormsby

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 83 • No: 62

Senate vote • 4/10/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 27 • No: 22

House vote • 3/11/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 56 • No: 40 • Other: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 7/27/2025.

    4/21/2025House

  2. Chapter 71, 2025 Laws.

    4/21/2025House

  3. Governor signed.

    4/21/2025legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    4/16/2025legislature

  5. President signed.

    4/14/2025legislature

  6. Speaker signed.

    4/11/2025legislature

  7. Third reading, passed; yeas, 27; nays, 22; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    4/10/2025House

  8. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    4/10/2025House

  9. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    4/7/2025House

  10. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    3/29/2025House

  11. Minority; do not pass.

    3/28/2025House

  12. LC - Majority; do pass.

    3/28/2025House

  13. First reading, referred to Labor & Commerce.

    3/13/2025House

  14. Third reading, passed; yeas, 56; nays, 40; absent, 0; excused, 2.

    3/11/2025House

  15. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/11/2025House

  16. Floor amendment(s) adopted.

    3/11/2025House

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

    3/10/2025House

  18. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    2/21/2025House

  19. LAWS - Executive action taken by committee.

    2/19/2025House

  20. Minority; without recommendation.

    2/19/2025House

  21. LAWS - Majority; do pass.

    2/19/2025House

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

    1/30/2025House

  23. Introduced

    1/30/2025House

Bill Text

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