• Washington State Governor Ferguson recently signed a wide range of labor and employment legislation into law, including bills that address reductions in force, pregnancy accommodations, noncompete agreements, traditional labor relations, behavioral health in the construction industry, and wage and hour claims.
• HB 1155, which bans noncompetition agreements with employees and independent contractors, will take effect on June 30, 2026; the other laws will take effect on June 11, 2026.

These bills were signed by the governor in recent weeks:

Separation of employment

• SB 6106 amends the Washington WARN law (called the STABLE Act) to remove “any Indian tribe” from the definition of “employer.” It also limits the disclosure of the names and addresses of employees holding affected jobs.
• HB 1155 bans noncompetition agreements with employees and independent contractors, while expanding what qualifies as such.
• SB 5874 modifies penalties for reporting errors regarding unemployment compensation. It also amends requirements for reporting employee information, including Social Security numbers and standard occupational classifications.
• HB 2264 allows a person to receive unemployment benefits after voluntarily being part of an employer’s reduction in force.

Accommodations and general employee rights

• SB 6014 confirms that employers may not require a certification from a pregnant employee’s healthcare provider for the accommodation of a limit on lifting over seventeen pounds. It...

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