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2026 Legislation of Note

Legislation of Note

EMPLOYMENT LAW

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

  • Notice requirements for grocery store closures: Senate Bill 6147, sponsored by Sen. Steve Conway, D-Tacoma, would require grocery establishments located in “food deserts” to give six months notice before closing a store. This bill would create an onerous requirement on businesses that are struggling to stay open. A hearing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee.

  • 32-hour workweek: House Bill 2611, sponsored by Rep. Shaun Scott, D-Seattle, would reduce the standard workweek from 40 to 32 hours. This bill, modeled after San Juan County’s policy, would reduce productivity and force more employers to pay overtime, increasing pressure to move jobs out of state. The bill has a hearing at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in the House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee.

  • Workers’ comp rate transparency: House Bill 2188, sponsored by Rep. Suzanne Schmidt, R-Spokane Valley, would increase transparency around certain workers’ comp rate increases. This is a good bill to help reform the workers’ comp program and improve transparency. The bill has a hearing Wednesday in the House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee.

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TAX & FISCAL POLICY

Updates from Max Martin, tax and fiscal policy lead:

  • Stopping frivolous lawsuits over marketing emails: AWB supports bipartisan legislation to repair the Commercial Electronic Mail Act (CEMA) to stop predatory lawsuits over promotional email subject‑lines. House Bill 2274 and Senate Bill 5976 narrows who can seek damages under the act and when a commercial email subject line is considered misleading. The Senate version is scheduled for a hearing at 8 a.m. Thursday in the Senate Business, Trade & Economic Development Committee.

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ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Updates from Peter Godlewski, AWB’s lead on energy, environment and water legislation:

  • Data centers: Last week, employer leaders testified in opposition to House Bill 2515 and Senate Bill 6171, which would create new requirements for large energy-using facilities, such as data centers. This bill would restrict the ability to attract new data centers and create challenges for existing industrial customers. AWB’s Peter Godlewski testified that Grant County saw a 131% spike in tax revenue between 2005 and 2024 thanks to the data-center sector. Also testifying opposed was Tom Pierson, interim president and CEO of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, who noted that legislation authorizing data center tax preferences has spurred economic development and job creation. Before the tax preferences were adopted, a data center in Puyallup sat vacant for 13 years, but thanks to a $200 million investments, tax dollars are returning to the local economy. The Olympian has more on the bill.

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EDUCATION & WORKFORCE

Updates from Emily Wittman, director for education, workforce, child care, health care & federal affairs:

  • Expanding college grant eligibility: AWB supports bipartisan legislation that expands access to the Washington College Grant program. Senate Bill 6217, Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, and House Bill 2458, sponsored by Rep. Debra Entenman, D- Kent, allows students in nondegree credential programs to qualify for the Washington College Grant. This is a win for the students who enroll in certificate programs at community colleges and the employers who depend on those training programs.

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LAND USE & HOUSING

Updates from Ken Short, lead on transportation, land use and housing:

  • City-owned grocery stores: House Bill 2313, sponsored by Rep.  Darya Farivar, D-Seattle, would allow cities to establish publicly owned grocery stores in underserved areas. AWB opposes this proposal because it allows government to compete directly with private businesses. The bill has a hearing at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in the House Local Government Committee.

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