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WashingtonHB 21792025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Concerning membership in the public employees' retirement system for port workers who participate in a federal railroad retirement plan, a union-sponsored defined benefit retirement plan, or another employer-funded private pension plan.

Sponsored By: Hunter Abell (Republican)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

State pension limits for some port workers

Beginning January 1, 2027, Washington port workers covered by federal railroad retirement are excluded from the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS). This exclusion applies only to periods covered by railroad retirement. The law also confirms exclusions for port workers covered by union-sponsored or other employer-funded private pension plans. The union-plan exclusion covers periods under private Taft-Hartley defined-benefit plans while employed by a port district since January 1, 1965. Affected workers cannot earn PERS credit for those periods; the law does not change benefits under their other plans.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Hunter Abell

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Andrew Engell

    Republican • House

  • Janice Zahn

    Democratic • House

  • Stephanie Barnard

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 241 • No: 1

House vote • 3/12/2026

Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Yes: 96 • No: 0 • Other: 2

Senate vote • 3/4/2026

3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Yes: 49 • No: 0

House vote • 2/16/2026

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 96 • No: 1 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 6/11/2026*.

    3/23/2026House

  2. Chapter 133, 2026 Laws.

    3/23/2026House

  3. Governor signed.

    3/23/2026legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    3/12/2026legislature

  5. Speaker signed.

    3/12/2026legislature

  6. Passed final passage; yeas, 96; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 2.

    3/12/2026House

  7. House concurred in Senate amendments.

    3/12/2026House

  8. President signed.

    3/12/2026legislature

  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    3/4/2026House

  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/4/2026House

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

    3/4/2026House

  12. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    3/3/2026House

  13. WM - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

    3/2/2026House

  14. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    3/2/2026House

  15. First reading, referred to Ways & Means.

    2/18/2026House

  16. Third reading, passed; yeas, 96; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 1.

    2/16/2026House

  17. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    2/16/2026House

  18. Floor amendment(s) adopted.

    2/16/2026House

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

    2/11/2026House

  20. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    1/27/2026House

  21. APP - Executive action taken by committee.

    1/22/2026House

  22. APP - Majority; do pass.

    1/22/2026House

  23. First reading, referred to Appropriations.

    1/12/2026House

  24. Prefiled for introduction.

    12/22/2025House

Bill Text

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