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Committee hears expansion of WARN-style notices and employer health obligations in layoffs bill
Summary
Senate Bill 5525 would lower the state threshold for required notice of business closings or mass layoffs and add penalties and a temporary employer-funded continuation of group health insurance for some layoffs. Proponent testimony emphasized worker planning time; opponents sought clarity about bankruptcy and enforcement.
Senate Bill 5525 would require an employer of 50 or more full‑time employees to provide 60 days’ written notice to the Employment Security Department (ESD) and affected employees before a business closing or mass layoff, mirroring parts of the federal WARN Act but at a lower threshold.
Committee staff explained the proposal is modeled on the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act but applies at lower employee thresholds and is state‑level rather than site‑specific. Jarrett Sackstaff, committee staff, summarized the bill and listed exceptions including unforeseeable business circumstances, ongoing…
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