Committee reports six labor bills out of committee, including paid-leave changes and 'Healthy Starts' pregnancy accommodations

The Labor & Workplace Standards Committee met in executive session March 26 and reported six bills out of committee, advancing measures on leave for hate‑crime victims, pregnancy accommodations, paid family and medical leave funding, call‑center relocation notice, law‑enforcement grievance arbitration, and electricians' training for electric vehicle charging work.

Why it matters: the bills would change employer obligations, leave eligibility and verification, premium caps and reserve policy for a state paid‑leave trust, and training requirements for work at state facilities — issues that affect workers, employers and state operations across Washington.

Substitute Senate Bill 5101 — hate‑crime leave and verification The bill would allow victims of hate crimes to take leave or request reasonable safety accommodations under the Domestic Violence Leave Act and clarifies whether online communications are included in the definition of hate crime. Two amendments were moved to tighten verification requirements; both failed. Representative McIntyre, who moved an amendment to align definitions with existing law, said, “it simply just aligns it with what we have previously, agreed in statute should be, considered a hate crime.” Representative Ortiz Self argued against requiring proof, saying, “asking victims to step up and having to prove themselves… I would say vote no.” The committee reported SSB 5101 out of committee with a due‑pass recommendation (6 ayes, 3 nays). Vote record (as announced): Berry —…