WashingtonWashington law warns striking workers about possible benefit repayment
Washington law requires strike-related unemployment applicants to receive notice that later back pay for the same weeks may lead to repayment.
What it does
People applying for unemployment benefits because of a strike must be told that back pay for the same weeks may lead to repayment.
When a striking worker later receives back pay from the employer for weeks covered by unemployment benefits, the department must assess repayment of those matching benefits.
Argument forAdvance notice could help striking workers plan for possible repayment if their employer later pays them for weeks they received benefits.
Argument againstWorkers who later receive back pay for weeks they collected benefits may have to repay those benefits, which could strain their budgets.
More detail
The department must notify applicants about possible repayment. This applies to people applying for benefits because of a strike at their employer's workplace. The department may give notice through an online acknowledgment box, a letter, or another method it reasonably chooses. This section expires December 31, 2035.
The department must assess repayment of matching benefits. This applies to benefits received while a person was unemployed because of a strike at the employer's workplace. Repayment applies when a person receives retroactive wages from the employer for a week in which the person received benefits. This section expires December 31, 2035.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 23Effective date 6/11/2026.Latest
- Mar 23Chapter 161, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 23Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 10Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 5Speaker signed.Passed House
- Mar 5President signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 4Third reading, passed; yeas, 94; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 4.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#33). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 4Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 2Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Feb 25Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 25LAWS - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Feb 25Executive action taken in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards at 8:45 AM.
- Feb 24Public hearing in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 17First reading, referred to Labor & Workplace Standards.Minor
- Feb 13Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#20). Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 13Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 6Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Feb 3Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Feb 2Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 2LC - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Feb 2Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 10:30 AM.
- Jan 26Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 10:30 AM.
- Jan 14First reading, referred to Labor & Commerce.Introduced
Economy & Jobs