Business Regulation

On Monday, the House Committee on Housing voted out HB 1217, the rent control bill, on a party line vote and referred it to the Appropriations Committee for further action. The House Technology, Economic Development & Veterans Committee has scheduled a committee vote for this coming Tuesday on HB 1168 and 1170, bills to require transparency and detection tools to consumers when a developer releases an AI system. The tech and business industry generally opposed these bills due to concerns over private right of action enforcement. The tech industry has submitted amendments seeking to clarify terms and narrow the bills’ enforcement provisions. A “right to repair” bill, HB 1483, expanding consumer options to repair consumer electronics, has been reintroduced and is set for public hearing this coming Friday. HB 1332, regulating Transportation Network Companies’ use of different product levels and features for drivers, is set for public hearing on Wednesday in the House Labor Committee. HB 1613 is set for introduction on Monday, it is a return of an effort by Rep. Kristine Reeves (D-Federal Way) to create a regulatory framework for the selling and reselling of tickets to sports, concerts, and other entertainment events.

Labor & Employment

On the House side, the House Labor Committee on Tuesday heard HB 1213, expanding job protection and other coverage in the paid family & medical leave insurance system, and has scheduled the bill for a vote this Friday. On Wednesday, the same committee heard HB 1308, broadening employee access to personnel records and reasons for discharge, backed by a new private right of action, and has likewise scheduled a vote in committee this Friday. Other bills scheduled for a votes on Friday include HB 1155, prohibiting non-compete agreements and limiting non-solicitation agreements, and HB 1070, broadening presumptive coverage for PTSD in the workers’ compensation system. Also this coming week, the committee will hear on Tuesday HB 1313, expanding notification requirements in the event of a “mass layoff,” and HB 1402, making it an unfair practice under the Law Against Discrimination for an employer to advertise that a position requires a valid driver’s license, unless driving is an essential function of the position. On Wednesday, the committee will consider HB 1524, requiring panic buttons and other protections for employees who work alone.  On the Senate side, on Wednesday the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee  heard SB 5041, extending unemployment insurance benefits to striking workers, and SB 5292, changing the way in which premiums are set for paid family and medical leave insurance. Neither are thus far scheduled for a committee vote.

Insurance

HB 1199, a request of Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer to provide explicit authority to order restitution in insurance disputes and extend the current cap on penalties for non-compliance from $10,000 total to $10,000 per violation was heard Friday in the House Consumer Protection & Business Committee, while its companion, SB 5331, is set for a hearing this Thursday. Industry is working on amendment concepts to enhance the clarity of these penalty processes. Previously heard bills providing greater options for service contract providers to back the financial obligations of their contracts, HB 1006 and SB 5108, were voted out of their respective committees on Tuesday and Wednesday. HB 1230 and SB 5141, excusing disability income insurers from single case filings for rate changes, were heard in their committees Thursday and Friday, with the Senate companion set for a vote this Wednesday.  New bills introduced this week include HB 1504, requiring firearms owners to carry specific liability insurance, HB 1539, setting up a working group for wildfire mitigation and underwriting transparency issues, and HB 1563, along with its Senate companion, SB 5419, an OIC request bill requiring reports of fire losses to the Office of Insurance Commissioner rather than the State Fire Marshal.  

Financial Services

HB 1285, an industry-supported bill to require financial literacy education in high school graduation standards, was heard in the House Education Committee on Thursday and is scheduled for a vote out of committee this coming Thursday.

Civil Justice & Liability

HB 1046, providing immunity from civil liability for individuals who damage a motor vehicle to rescue an animal or vulnerable person, was voted out of the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. SB 5107, requiring local governments to provide underinsured motorist coverage to employees driving in the course of employment was heard in the Senate Local Government Committee on Monday, but given widespread opposition is not scheduled for further action. On Wednesday, HB 1518 was introduced, creating new presumptive negligence standards, statutory penalties, and punitive damages in claims arising from collisions involving “self-propelled devices.”  HB 1527, providing that an offer of settlement in a medical malpractice claim subject to mandatory mediation does not expire until after the mediation, was introduced and awaits a hearing in the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee. Finally, on Tuesday, the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee will hear SB 5408, addressing lawsuit abuse arising from the state’s job posting salary & benefits disclosure law by providing a ten day notice and right to cure provision.  

PIA Bill Status & Upcoming Events Report

Upcoming Events

Labor & Workplace Standards (House) - HHR D and Virtual JLOB - 1/28 @ 10:30am

• HB 1402 - Public Hearing - Concerning job postings requiring driver's licenses. (Remote Testimony Available).

Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans (House) - HHR C and Virtual JLOB - 1/28 @ 10:30am

• HB 1168 - Exec Session - Increasing transparency in artificial intelligence.

• HB 1170 - Exec Session - Informing users when content is developed or modified by artificial intelligence.

Consumer Protection & Business (House) - HHR B and Virtual JLOB - 1/28 @ 1:30pm

Business, Financial Services & Trade (Senate) - SHR 2 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg - 1/30 @ 8:00am

• SB 5262 - Public Hearing - Correcting obsolete or erroneous references in statutes administered by the insurance commissioner. (Remote Testimony Available).

• SB 5331 - Public Hearing - Strengthening consumer protection through increased insurer accountability for violations of the insurance code. (Remote Testimony Available).

Community Safety (House) - HHR D and Virtual JLOB - 1/30 @ 8:00am

• HB 1315 - Exec Session - Concerning impaired driving.

Environment & Energy (House) - HHR B and Virtual JLOB - 1/30 @ 8:00am

• HB 1522 - Public Hearing - Concerning approval of electric utility wildfire mitigation plans. (Remote Testimony Available).

Transportation (Senate) - SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg - 1/30 @ 4:00pm

• SB 5127 - Exec Session - Creating additional requirements for collector vehicle and horseless carriage license plates to improve compliance and public safety.

• SSB 5067 - Public Hearing - Concerning impaired driving. (Remote Testimony Available).

Labor & Workplace Standards (House) - HHR D and Virtual JLOB - 1/31 @ 10:30am

• HB 1213 - Exec Session - Expanding protections for workers in the state paid family and medical leave program.

• HB 1308 - Exec Session - Concerning access to personnel records.

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