Labor committee advances four bills, including actuarial PFML rate change and longer plumbing infraction window

The Labor and Workplace Standards Committee on Feb. 25, 2026, during an executive session, reported four Senate bills out of committee with due-pass recommendations, moving each to the next legislative stage.

Staff introduced the package at the start of the session. "Second substitute Senate Bill 5,292 is the bill that shifts the rate setting method for the PFML premium from a statutory look back formula to an actuarial approach, plus requires a 4 month reserve by 2030," a staff member said. Vice Chair Scott moved the bill forward and urged the committee to support final passage, saying the change and the four-month reserve would help put the program on "sound financial footing." Representative McIntyre voiced support, calling the bill a step toward broader paid family and medical leave goals. The committee approved SB 5292 by voice/expedited roll call: 9 ayes, 0 nays. The bill was reported out of committee with a due-pass recommendation.

On Engrossed Senate Bill 6,106, staff described the measure as a cleanup bill aligning state law with federal law on employer definitions and protecting worker information from public-record disclosure. "Number 1, it excludes tribes from the definition of employer," a committee member summarized, and the bill also makes certain worker information exempt from public-record requests. Representative Barra said members on her side would be mixed, citing concerns about how required layoff notices would work for seasonal farmworkers and saying she hoped that portion could be fixed before floor consideration. The committee recorded a roll-call vote of 7 ayes and 2 nays, and SB 6106 was reported out with a due-pass recommendation.

Senate Bill 6,134 would require the Employment Security Department to notify striking workers who apply for unemployment insurance that they may be subject to an overpayment assessment if they later receive retroactive wages from a strike settlement. Ranking Member Schmidt described the bill as clarifying the rights and obligations of striking workers and said it would help ESD process overpayments. The committee approved SB 6134 unanimously by roll call, 9–0, and reported it out with a due-pass recommendation.

The session concluded with Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6,197, which changes the infractions threshold that can trigger suspension of a plumbing credential. The measure moves from a standard described as three violations in six months to five violations in five years; committee discussion noted the change was the product of a compromise between union plumbing organizations and open-shop groups. During earlier questioning, a member asked whether prior infractions would count; staff said guidance from LNI indicated they would count infractions from the prior five years when enforcing the bill as written. Ranking Member Schmidt and others urged support based on stakeholder compromise and the LNI guidance. The committee approved SB 6197 by roll call, 9–0, and reported it out with a due-pass recommendation.

All four bills were moved by Vice Chair Scott and carried to the next stage with due-pass recommendations. The committee adjourned after thanking staff and caucus support.

Votes at a glance

- SB 5292 (second substitute): PFML premium rate-setting changed to an actuarial approach and a 4-month reserve by 2030; reported out 9–0. - SB 6106 (engrossed): Amendments aligning layoff notice law with federal law and exempting certain worker information from public records; reported out 7–2. - SB 6134: Requires ESD to notify striking workers about potential unemployment overpayments; reported out 9–0. - SB 6197 (engrossed substitute): Changes plumbing credential suspension threshold from 3 violations in 6 months to 5 violations in 5 years; reported out 9–0.

The committee’s roll-call tallies and staff explanations were taken from committee proceedings during the Feb. 25, 2026 executive session. The measures now proceed to the next legislative stage.