Bill would let workers use earned sick leave for immigration proceedings; supporters cite fairness, employers raise framework concerns

Gross Substitute House Bill 18 75 would allow employees and drivers for transportation-network companies to use accrued paid sick or earned paid sick time to prepare for or participate in judicial or administrative immigration proceedings for themselves or family members.

Committee staff described the existing paid sick-leave rules and how the bill amends verification and acceptable documentation. Under the proposed law, employers may accept documentation from an attorney, immigrant advocate, member of the clergy, or other professional who assisted the worker, or accept a worker’s written statement; any documentation must not disclose personally identifying immigration-status details. The bill also includes protections against retaliation. Committee staff said a revised fiscal note was requested because an amendment was adopted on the House floor; earlier fiscal estimates showed indeterminate cash receipts and expenditures to accident medical aid accounts in FY25–29 of $581,000.

Representative Osman Saladin, prime sponsor, said many immigrant workers face repeated immigration appointments and that allowing use of earned sick time prevents forcing workers to choose between income and life-altering legal proceedings. Supporters including immigrant-rights groups, legal-services organizations and workforce advocates testified in favor; Guillermo Sasueta of OneAmerica told the committee the bill is “about fairness, opportunity, and compassion.” Jeremiah Miller of the Fair Work Center called the bill an extension of prior safe-leave policy and said it would clarify that workers can use the time they have already accrued.

Retail and employer groups suggested an alternative: some testified that domestic-violence (DV) or safe-leave frameworks may be a better fit than general paid sick leave because DV frameworks provide job-protected leave and are already structured for legal-proceeding uses. Rose Gunderson of the Washington Retail Association proposed amending the bill to use the domestic-violence/safe-leave framework (recently expanded in other bills) to preserve basic-paid-sick-time intent for health needs while granting the stronger protections associated with DV leave.

Committee members heard more than 900 sign-ins on the record (pro and con); the committee did not take an immediate vote during the Oct. 12 hearing. Sponsors and supporters indicated continued outreach with employers on verification mechanics and leave frameworks.