Committee reports three labor‑related bills out of committee; roll calls recorded

The Labor & Workplace Standards Committee on Jan. 29 voted to report three bills out of committee with due‑pass recommendations: House Bill 1068 (reported out 7‑2), House Bill 1069 (6‑3), and House Bill 1275 (9‑0). The motions were made during the committee's executive session and roll calls were recorded for HB 1068 and HB 1069.

House Bill 1068: Vice Chair Scott moved that HB 1068 be reported out of committee with a due‑pass recommendation. The bill would allow Washington Management Service employees at the Department of Corrections to engage in interest arbitration. Representative Scott spoke in favor, saying the change "remove[s] the exclusion of certain managers" at DOC from interest arbitration and could ease contract negotiations. Representative Schmidt and Representative McIntyre recorded nays without recommendation, citing concern about including management in interest arbitration for public‑safety contexts. Roll call: Berry (aye); Fosse (aye); Scott (aye); Schmidt (nay without recommendation); Ybarra (aye); Bernofsky (aye); McIntyre (nay without recommendation); Obraz (aye); Ortiz Self (aye). Tally: 7 ayes, 2 nays. Outcome: reported out with a due‑pass recommendation.

House Bill 1069: Vice Chair Scott moved HB 1069, which allows state employee unions to bargain over supplemental retirement benefits. Representative Fauci spoke in favor, describing the bill as bipartisan and designed to allow bargaining over supplemental retirement plans. Representative McIntyre announced a "no without recommendation" vote, citing a late‑arising concern about a possible "double‑dipping" loophole that he said merits further review. Roll call: Berry (aye); Fosse (aye); Scott (aye); Schmidt (nay without recommendation); Ybarra (nay without recommendation); Bernofsky (aye); McIntyre (nay without recommendation); Obraz (aye); Ortiz Self (aye). Tally: 6 ayes, 3 nays. Outcome: reported out with a due‑pass recommendation.

House Bill 1275: Vice Chair Scott moved HB 1275 to establish a mechanism for the Department of Labor and Industries to fulfill workers‑compensation obligations of decertified self‑insurance groups or decertified municipal employers and require reimbursement to LNI. Committee discussion described the statute as closing a "three‑strikes" gap and creating a mechanism for employees to receive compensation when certification is withdrawn. The bill was reported out by voice vote with nine ayes and zero nays.

All three bills were reported out of committee on Jan. 29 for further consideration by the full House. These summaries reflect motions, committee discussion and roll‑call results recorded in the committee transcript.