State Director Patrick Connor reports from Olympia on the legislative and political week ending February 14

The pace of public hearings and bill introductions slowed considerably this week as policy committees began shifting to more executive sessions where bills are amended, if necessary, and passed along to either a fiscal or Rules committee for further consideration.

Week in Review

Much of this week’s testimony, and NFIB’s advocacy efforts, focused on stopping the $25 minimum wage, SB 5578 and HB 1764. NFIB testified in person before the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee to oppose the legislation and submitted written testimony to the House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee because both bills were heard at the same time. A copy of our House testimony is available online. The same comments were also later sent to the Senate panel due to the short time allowed for in-person testimony.

The threat of a $25 minimum wage, plus three weeks paid vacation and five days paid leave for bereavement, struck a chord with NFIB members. More than 1,300 have contacted lawmakers so far, apparently setting an NFIB record, with every single legislator receiving at least one message from a constituent. This strong grassroots push seems to be working. Neither bill has been scheduled for executive action yet. The deadline for the bills to advance is next Friday, February 21.

NFIB also testified against HB 1788, increasing workers’ compensation benefits ostensibly to maintain health insurance coverage for injured workers and their dependents for the duration of the worker’s illness or injury. NFIB testified against the Senate companion, SB 5548, last week. We also submitted detailed written comments to both labor committees and bill prime sponsors. Prior to the House committee hearing, the bill sponsor contacted NFIB to discuss our objections and suggestions for the bill. Both bills have been scheduled for executive action next week in the respective labor committees.

This morning (February 14), NFIB testified in support of SB 5434, which would strengthen legislative oversight during a declared state of emergency. This bipartisan proposal also enjoys the support of Governor Bob Ferguson. It has already been scheduled for executive session next week, a good indication the bill will likely pass.

Priority Bills – Please Sign-In

As mentioned above, Friday, February 21, is the deadline for policy committees to approve bills and move them on to either a fiscal committee, if they have a budget impact, or to their chamber’s Rules Committee. Consequently, there are less than a dozen bills scheduled so far where NFIB plans to go on record with its position. Among those are four that we encourage members to sign-in on.

— HB 1070, Allowing corrections officers to file workers’ compensation claims for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As NFIB previously reported, these types of claims cost an average of $650,000 to treat before becoming permanent pensions in 20% of cases. Pensions average just over $1 million each. For 2025, workers’ comp premiums for first responders who already enjoy this benefit should have increased 30%. Labor & Industries decided that would be too much of a rate hike, so they used reserve funds to cut the increase in half — effectively forcing all other employers and workers in the state fund to subsidize that rate class. The House Appropriations Committee will hear the bill Monday, February 17, at 4:00. Sign up CON here.

— SB 5539, requiring small employers to provide job protection and maintain health insurance coverage for workers taking Paid Family & Medical Leave, will be heard by the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee February 18. If your company can hold jobs and pay health insurance premiums for up to 16 weeks for each worker taking PFML, sign-in pro. If you or other small businesses you know would struggle with these added costs and mandates, join NFIB in signing-in CON here.

— SB 5726, establishing a vehicle miles traveled tax for automobiles, will be heard in Senate Transportation February 18. NFIB opposes VMT based on our member ballot on the topic. We recognize that the growth in hybrid and electric vehicles has reduced gas tax revenue. A VMT might make sense if (1) it was limited to hybrids and EVs, with traditional gas and diesel vehicles exempted, and (2) constitutionally protected for use only for construction and maintenance of highways, roads, bridges, and ferries, not used for transit, bike lines, sidewalks, trails, and other non-car related purposes. This bill fails to meet those requirements. NFIB opposed the House version of the bill earlier this week and asks you to join us by signing-in CON here.

— SB 5091, returning Washington to the federal vehicle emissions standards and ending our use of California’s absurd regulatory regime. NFIB supported a similar bill by former Leadership Council member Rep. Andrew Barkis earlier in session. Sadly, that bill did not advance. We need a very strong show of support for this important legislation. Sign in PRO here.

Past Weekly Reports

— February 8—Minimum Wage Bills Coming Up for First Hearings 

— January 31: Entrepreneurs called on to testify on upcoming legislation by signing-in

— January 25: NFIB Testifies Against Giving Striking Workers Unemployment Benefits

— January 18: Washington State Legislature Begins 2025 Session