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Governor Ferguson signs House Bill 1173 at LiUNA event, aiming to strengthen pay and classification protections for high-hazard workers
Summary
At the training facility ribbon-cutting on May 9, 2025, Governor Bob Ferguson signed House Bill 1173, which supporters say clarifies wage protections and strengthens Department of Labor and Industries enforcement for apprentices in high-hazard facilities.
Governor Bob Ferguson signed House Bill 1173 into law during the May 9, 2025 opening event for the Northwest Laborers Training Facility in Des Moines, saying the legislation will help ensure workers in high-hazard facilities are properly classified and fairly compensated.
Erin Frazier, who introduced the bill signing at the event, described HB 1173 as legislation that addresses wages in "high-hazard facilities" and closes implementation gaps in the existing statute to ensure workers — including apprentices — can access protections and remedies. "With the signing of House Bill 1173, we are taking a significant step forward in ensuring our state's existing protections for workers in high hazard facilities can be upheld," Frazier said.
Speakers at the signing emphasized misclassification of apprentices as a persistent problem. A representative speaking about worker protections noted that misclassification "denies them the benefits and protections they are entitled to" and urged stronger enforcement, public metrics and increased public awareness.
Governor Ferguson said he appreciated the long advocacy that led to the bill and acknowledged sponsors and partners. "It takes many things... to get a bill through any legislative session," Ferguson said before signing and presented multiple pens to the team who helped pass the measure. Ferguson also noted he would sign at the facility to highlight the link between training infrastructure and policy.
Event organizers credited legislative champions (Frazier named prime sponsor Representative Dan Bernofsky and Senator Saldana as authors of the Senate companion) and industry partners for negotiating language. The bill signing was followed by photographs and a public reception.
Supporters said HB 1173 will expand the Department of Labor and Industries’ tools to address misclassification and improve access to wage protections for apprentices in hazardous workplaces; specific enforcement timelines and implementation details were not specified during the ceremony.
