Over a dozen laws that were passed between 2023 and 2025 will take effect in January. Here's what they do.
WASHINGTON, USA — Over a dozen new laws are taking effect in Washington state in 2026.
These laws increase protections for workers, modify the state's impaired driving deferred prosecution statutes and make technical changes to Washington law.
Here's what you should know about the laws that will take effect in the Evergreen state come January:
This bill requires health care settings to conduct timely investigations of workplace violence incidents and to annually update workplace violence prevention plans based on investigation findings, an analysis of systemic and common causes of workplace violence incidents, and other factors.
This bill expands protections for workers utilizing the state Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program.
The bill lowers the employer size threshold for employment protection rights in the PFML and provides an employee with protection if he or she began employment with a qualifying employer at least 180 calendar days before taking leave. Health care coverage protection during any period in which an employee receives PFML benefits and is also entitled to employment protection is expanded.
Small employers will have better access to grants to offset the costs of employees' use of the PFML program.
This bill makes changes to existing laws governing seizure and forfeiture proceedings and reporting.
These changes included...
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