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Senate approves state WARN-style bill requiring employer notice for mass layoffs
Summary
The Senate passed substitute Senate Bill 5525 to require advance notice for plant closings and mass layoffs modeled on the federal WARN Act; the measure passed 30-19 and includes an amendment to exempt state employees.
The Washington State Senate passed substitute Senate Bill 5525 on March 3, extending state-level notice requirements for mass layoffs and business closures similar to the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act.
Sponsor Senator Cleveland told the chamber that the federal WARN Act requires 60 days' notice for large employers and that the state bill aims to provide an additional layer of protection and time for workers and communities to prepare. "Workers deserve time — time to find a new job, time to seek retraining, or adjust their finances," Cleveland said.
Opponents said the bill could impose untenable burdens on small and family-run businesses that exhaust resources while trying to avoid closure. "When you've gotten to that point, guess what? You're out of resources," Senator McEwen said, warning that announcing a 60-day wind-down can accelerate supplier and market reactions that compound the problem.
Nut graf: The substitute bill includes exemptions (for temporary projects and certain unforeseeable circumstances) and an adopted amendment that removes state employees from coverage; it passed the Senate on a roll-call vote of 30 yeas to 19 nays.
Key votes and provisions
- Amendment 98 (mover: Senator Cleveland) — corrected an inadvertent inclusion of state employees; the amendment was adopted and excludes state employees who are generally covered by collective bargaining or other rules.
- The bill's sponsor said the law is intended to protect workers and communities by ensuring timely notice of substantial layoffs or closures, while the floor debate highlighted the tension between worker protections and potential burdens on small employers.
Final passage
After discussion and a motion to suspend the rules to advance the engrossed substitute to third reading, the Senate called the roll. The recorded vote on final passage was 30 ayes and 19 nays; the presiding officer announced a constitutional majority and declared the bill passed.
Ending note: The bill mirrors the federal WARN Act's 60-day notice concept and includes carve-outs and exemptions discussed on the floor; sponsors signaled implementation details and enforcement would be refined as the bill advances.
