2026 Legislation of Note

EMPLOYMENT LAW

Updates from James Crandall, lead on legal affairs, labor & employment law:

• 32-hour workweek bill dies: A proposal to shorten the standard workweek from 40 to 32 hours failed to advance out of committee before last week’s deadline, meaning it’s dead for the session. AWB and many other employer groups opposed this bill, warning it could result in employers capping hours to avoid paying overtime and ultimately push jobs out of state.

• Immigrant worker protections: House Bill 2105, sponsored by Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self, D-Mukilteo and requested by Attorney General Nick Brown, would create new requirements for employers regarding federal work eligibility inspections. Improvements have been made since the bill’s initial introduction. However, penalties including a private right of action remain, and AWB still has concerns with its potential impacts. We will continue to work closely with the bill sponsor and the Attorney General’s office to make the legislation work for both Washington employers and employees.

• Electronic monitoring: House Bill 2114, sponsored by Rep. Lisa Parshley, D-Olympia, would require employers to notify employees if their employer uses electronic monitoring, including artificial intelligence, to conduct performance evaluations. The main problem with this bill is that the definitions are overly broad and it creates a private right of action.