WashingtonHB 18792025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Concerning meal and rest breaks for hospital workers.

Sponsored By: Brianna Thomas (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Hospital workers get protected breaks

Beginning January 1, 2026, licensed Washington hospitals must schedule required rest breaks during each work period and provide uninterrupted breaks. Covered workers provide direct patient care or clinical services and are paid hourly or covered by a union agreement. Exceptions cover unforeseeable emergencies and unforeseeable clinical situations where the worker determines that a break could significantly harm a patient. The employer or its designee can override that clinical determination when it determines that life-threatening harm could result. Hospitals must record and keep records of missed meal and rest breaks. Quarterly reports to the Department of Labor and Industries must count breaks missed in violation, breaks waived, and total required breaks. Reports are due 30 calendar days after each quarter ends. Certain hospitals identified by the law are exempt from the requirements to avoid missed breaks until July 1, 2026.

Hospital workers can combine paid breaks

Beginning January 1, 2026, covered Washington hospital workers and employers can agree to combine meal and rest breaks. Covered workers provide direct patient care or clinical services and are paid hourly or covered by a union agreement. Combining breaks requires a work period with at least one meal break and more than one rest break. Workers can end the agreement at any time. The entire combined break is paid when the worker remains on duty. When released from duty for an uninterrupted combined break, the meal portion is unpaid and the rest portion is paid.

Hospital workers can waive some breaks

Beginning January 1, 2026, covered Washington hospital workers and employers can voluntarily agree to waive certain meal breaks or break-timing rules. Covered workers provide direct patient care or clinical services and are paid hourly or covered by a union agreement. On shifts under eight hours, they can waive the meal break. On shifts of eight hours or longer, they can waive the second or third meal break, or both. At least one meal break must still be provided and taken on those longer shifts. Timing waivers require meal breaks to start no earlier than the third hour worked and no later than the second-to-last scheduled hour. Agreements must be made before the first shift using them, and employers must expressly tell workers they are voluntary. Waivers must be written or electronic, stored in the employer's information system, and available on request. They must summarize applicable department rules and disclose possible rights under a union agreement. For union-covered shifts, the waiver form must be agreed to with the bargaining representative. Either party can revoke a waiver at any time; compliant waivers do not count as missed breaks under the law. Employers can explain and offer waivers that follow these safeguards. Certain hospitals identified by the law are exempt from the timing-waiver provisions until July 1, 2026.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Brianna Thomas
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

Alex Ramel
Democratic • House
Beth Doglio
Democratic • House
Gerry Pollet
Democratic • House
Joe Fitzgibbon
Democratic • House
Julio Cortes
Democratic • House
Lisa Parshley
Democratic • House
Liz Berry
Democratic • House
Mary Fosse
Democratic • House
Natasha Hill
Democratic • House
Sharon Tomiko Santos
Democratic • House
Shaun Scott
Democratic • House
Tarra Simmons
Democratic • House
Timm Ormsby
Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 143 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/8/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 48 • No: 0 • Other: 1

House vote • 3/4/2025