WashingtonPort workers in federal railroad plan leave state retirement system
Starting January 1, 2027, port district employees in the federal railroad retirement plan will be excluded from Washington's public employees' retirement system.
What it does
Starting January 1, 2027, port district employees who participate in the federal railroad retirement plan are excluded from Washington's public employees' retirement system.
Argument forPort districts may avoid making contributions to two retirement plans for the same worker and period of service.
Argument againstWorkers in the federal railroad plan may have less access to Washington public retirement service credit for work covered by that plan.
More detail
Washington law excludes these employees from membership in the public employees' retirement system for service covered by the federal railroad retirement plan. This applies to employees of a port district who participate in the federal railroad retirement plan. The exclusion takes effect January 1, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 23Effective date 6/11/2026*.Latest
- Mar 23Chapter 133, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 23Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 12Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Vote recorded Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (#12). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 12President signed.Major
- Mar 12Speaker signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 12Passed final passage; yeas, 96; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 2.Passed House
- Mar 12House concurred in Senate amendments.
- Mar 4Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (#27). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 4Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 4Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.
- Mar 3Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Mar 2Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Mar 2WM - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).Minor
- Mar 2Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 26Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 18First reading, referred to Ways & Means.Minor
- Feb 16Third reading, passed; yeas, 96; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#18). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 16Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 16Floor amendment(s) adopted.
- Feb 11Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Jan 27Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Jan 22APP - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Jan 22Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 4:00 PM.
- Jan 15Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 4:00 PM.
- Jan 12First reading, referred to Appropriations.Minor
- 2025
- Dec 22Prefiled for introduction.Introduced
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