House Bill 2355, sponsored by Rep. Brianna Thomas (D-Seattle) and championed in the Senate by Sen. Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle), who sponsored the Senate companion bill, ensures that nannies, housekeepers, cooks, home care providers, and other domestic workers receive fair pay, written agreements, privacy protections, and legal recourse — rights they have been denied for decades.
“This bill is the result of years of work, especially by the domestic workers who have advocated tirelessly for their needs,” Thomas said. “They deserve to be recognized as a beacon of hope for all workers, especially at a time when hope can feel distant. Their light cannot be dimmed, and I am proud to stand with them today.”
Domestic workers have historically been excluded from many state and federal labor protections. Most are women, immigrants, and people of color, and they face higher rates of wage theft, harassment, and workplace discrimination than other workers. National studies show domestic workers earn, on average, 25% less than other service workers, and more than half report harassment or mistreatment on the job.
“I am deeply grateful to the domestic workers, advocates, and community leaders who have spent years organizing, sharing their stories, and fighting tirelessly for justice,” Saldaña said. “This new law recognizes the essential work domestic workers do every day and guarantees them the fairness, respect, and protections they have always deserved. This victory belongs to them.”
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