Minimum Wage Bills Coming Up for First Hearings

February 8, 2025

Small Business Legislative Update — Week 4

State Director Patrick Connor reports from Olympia on the small-business agenda for the legislative and political week ending February 7

While bill introductions and public hearings continued, committees added more executive sessions this week where bills were amended and then forwarded to either a fiscal committee for further consideration or sent to the chamber’s Rules Committee to be scheduled for a future floor session.

We are now tracking more than 100 bills of interest to small business owners.

Week in Review

We testified against a pair of House bills, HJR 4201 and HB 1032, seeking to amend the state constitution to lower the vote threshold to a simple majority to approve school bonds and levies. NFIB opposed the package, pointing out that the existing 60% majority required to raise property taxes for these purposes protects non-resident property owners — particularly small business owners — who may not live in the same school district as their shop or office, and thus, are unable to vote on these measures but expected to pay for them if passed by voters.

NFIB testified in support of the Senate version of the Right to Repair bill, SB 5423. We also engaged in several meetings and discussions about various amendment requests on the bills. Negotiations are ongoing, but the House bill could clear committee next week.

We testified in the Senate labor committee against SB 5548, which would require employers to continue providing health insurance coverage for injured workers and their dependents during the worker’s absence from the job. As drafted, the bill would create a new workers’ compensation benefit paid to the injured worker with the expectation that the worker or family member would forward payment to the employer for the worker’s share of the policy premium. NFIB pointed out a number of flaws in the plan in supplemental written comments requested by the committee chair. We intend to repeat that testimony Wednesday when the House labor committee hears the companion bill, HB 1788.

The Week Ahead

There are about 15 bills of interest scheduled for hearings next week. Of special note, both $25 minimum wage bills will be heard at the same time Tuesday in the House and Senate labor committees. NFIB is calling on small business owners to sign up to testify online, and sign-in “con” for the record on both bills. Labor will turn out in force. Please add your voice to the opposition. Click here for HB 1764 and here for SB 5578 sign-ins.

You should be able to access the sign-in portal for the other bills we’re watching next week from the links provided here.

Small Business Day

NFIB thanks our attendees and guest speakers for braving the hail, sleet, ice, and snow to attend this year’s Small Business Day in Olympia, held on February 4.

The weather conditions outside were equal in force to the storms inside the State Capitol swirling around some bad legislation for small businesses. NFIB members took to the halls of power to lobby for the Main Street agenda after spending the morning hearing from key policymakers on a variety of topics, including:

— Can a $12 billion budget hole be filled without new taxes? Presented by Sen. Chris Gildon, ranking member, Senate Ways & Means Committee

— The Republican response to Gov. Bob Ferguson and Democrat supermajorities. Presented by Senate Republican Leader John Braun

— Health insurance options for small businesses. Presented by Ingrid Ulrey, CEO, Washington Health Benefit Exchange

— The Legislature needs more small business owners, like you! Presented by Rep. Andrew Barkis, ranking member, House Transportation Committee

Small business owners who attended also heard about the new version of the $25 minimum wage proposals. Use this Action Alert to easily send your message to your legislators today.

NFIB Washington thanks its sponsors of this year’s event, Larson Financial Group and Rock Point Oyster Co. who made the event possible.