WashingtonWashington sets work eligibility rules for corrections and prosecutor staff
Corrections officers and prosecutor office employees must meet federal work authorization rules, including when already employed on or after March 18, 2026.
What it does
Agencies may consider citizens and people authorized to work under federal law for jobs focused on the custody and safety of adults in state facilities or local jails.
Prosecuting attorneys’ office employees must be citizens or authorized to work in the United States under federal law.
Corrections officers must be citizens or authorized to work in the United States under federal law.
Argument forAllowing people with federal work authorization to qualify could give correctional facilities and prosecutor offices more potential applicants.
Argument againstAn agency may reject someone whose work authorization makes the job impractical, which could limit hiring options for some applicants.
More detail
Agencies may consider applications from U.S. citizens and people authorized to work under federal law. This applies to jobs whose main duties are the custody, safety, and security of adults in state correctional facilities or local jails. Federal law and regulations apply. The rule does not let an employer bypass federal work authorization requirements. An agency may reject an applicant if it finds the person's work authorization makes agency employment impractical.
Employees of prosecuting attorneys’ offices must be U.S. citizens or people authorized to work under federal law. This applies to employees of prosecuting attorneys’ offices. Employers must follow federal work authorization rules and may not bypass them. This rule applies retroactively to people employed on or after March 18, 2026.
Corrections officers must be U.S. citizens or people authorized to work under federal law. This applies to corrections officers. Employers must follow federal work authorization rules and may not bypass them. This rule applies retroactively to people employed on or after March 18, 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 18Effective date 3/18/2026.Latest
- Mar 18Chapter 103, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 18Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 12Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 11Speaker signed.Major
- Mar 10President signed.Passed House
- Mar 9Passed final passage; yeas, 28; nays, 19; absent, 0; excused, 2.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Final Passage as Amended by the House (#8). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 9Senate concurred in House amendments.
- Mar 6Third reading, passed; yeas, 62; nays, 33; absent, 0; excused, 3.Minor
- Vote recorded Final Passage as Amended by the House (#2). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 6Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 6Floor amendment(s) adopted.
- Mar 6Committee amendment not adopted.Minor
- Feb 27Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Feb 25Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 23Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Feb 23CS - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).Minor
- Feb 23Executive action taken in the House Committee on Community Safety at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 18Public hearing in the House Committee on Community Safety at 10:30 AM.
- Jan 26First reading, referred to Community Safety.Minor
- Jan 21Third reading, passed; yeas, 30; nays, 19; absent, 0; excused, 0.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#5). Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 21Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Jan 21Floor amendment(s) adopted.
- Jan 21Returned to second reading for amendment.
- Jan 21Rules suspended.
- Jan 13Placed on third reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Jan 12By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
- 2025
- Apr 27By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading.
- Mar 25Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Mar 21Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Mar 20Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Mar 20CS - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).Minor
- Mar 20Executive action taken in the House Committee on Community Safety at 8:00 AM.
- Mar 13Public hearing in the House Committee on Community Safety at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 7First reading, referred to Community Safety.Minor
- Feb 5Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#9). Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 5Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Jan 29Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Jan 24Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Jan 23LAW - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Jan 23Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:30 AM.
- Jan 21Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 8:00 AM.
- Jan 13First reading, referred to Law & Justice.Minor
- 2024
- Dec 16Prefiled for introduction.Introduced
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