WashingtonWashington law excludes tribes from layoff notices and shields worker names
Washington’s law excludes tribal employers from this chapter’s definition and keeps names and addresses in required state notices about affected jobs out of public records.
What it does
For this chapter, an employer has at least 50 Washington employees, not counting part-time workers. The definition excludes Indian tribes, the state, and local governments.
Employers must send the Employment Security Department the names and addresses of employees holding affected jobs. The law exempts those details from public disclosure.
Argument forKeeping affected workers’ names and addresses out of public records could help protect their privacy during a closing or mass layoff.
Argument againstWorkers at tribal employers may not get this chapter’s 60-day notice because tribes are excluded from its definition of an employer.
More detail
The law’s definition of an employer excludes Indian tribes. The definition covers employers with 50 or more employees in Washington, not counting part-time employees; it excludes the state, local governments, and Indian tribes. The act took effect on March 17, 2026.
Employers provide affected employees’ names and addresses to the Employment Security Department, and the law exempts that information from public disclosure. The notice rule applies to employers planning a business closing or mass layoff and covers employees holding jobs that will be affected. The notice must include other required information about the planned closing or mass layoff. The public-disclosure exemption covers names and addresses employers provide to the Employment Security Department for this notice. The act took effect on March 17, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 17Effective date 3/17/2026.Latest
- Mar 17Chapter 86, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 17Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 10Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 5Speaker signed.Passed House
- Mar 4President signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 3Third reading, passed; yeas, 75; nays, 18; absent, 0; excused, 5.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#31). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 3Rules 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 25Minority; without recommendation.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 (#7). Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 13Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 13Floor amendment(s) adopted.
- Feb 10Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Feb 3Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Feb 2Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 2Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Feb 2LC - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Feb 2Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 10:30 AM.
- Jan 27Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 10:30 AM.
- Jan 14First reading, referred to Labor & Commerce.Introduced
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