Washington committee hears bill to license earned-wage access providers, defers action

The Washington State House Consumer Protection & Business Committee on Jan. 22 heard public testimony on House Bill 1063, which would create a new licensing chapter for earned wage access services and give the Department of Financial Institutions oversight beginning July 1, 2026. The committee held an extended public hearing but did not take executive action and deferred further action to a later date.

Proponents of the bill — including employer-integrated and direct-to-consumer providers — said EWA lets workers access wages they have already earned without interest or credit checks. Representative Christine Reeves (R-30), the bill sponsor, told the committee she used EWA herself and that the product is distinct from payday loans because “it does not require interest payments” and “you can only access wages you have already earned.” Industry witnesses PayActiv, DailyPay and Earnin described employer-integrated models and direct-to-consumer apps as…