States and cities are as busy as ever passing new workplace regulations throughout the calendar year. Here is our mid-year report summarizing the notable labor and employment laws that take effect from roughly July through October.
- Washington
Bill / Ordinance / Regulation | Main Topic | Summary | Effective Date |
Washington Final Rule re Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (WAC 296-123) | Pay Equity | Implements statutory amendments to the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act that extend protections to additional protected classes; clarifies and implements the state's pay range disclosure requirements and salary history inquiry prohibition. | 7/1/2025 |
Washington HB 1308 | Personnel Files | Requires employers to provide a copy of a personnel file to an employee or former employee upon request; defines “personnel file.” | 7/27/2025 |
Washington HB 1395 (SB 5531) | Healthcare Background Checks | Requires fingerprint-based background checks for certain long-term care workers in certain circumstances; places limitations on the screening and disqualification of long-term care workers. | 7/27/2025 |
| Washington HB 1490 (SB 5318) | Home Care Background Checks | Requires home care agencies to complete fingerprint-based background checks for certain individuals. | 7/27/2025 |
Washington HB 1747 (SB 5549) | Criminal Background Checks | Prohibits an employer from rejecting an applicant for failure to disclose a criminal record or from taking adverse employment action based on an employee or applicant’s arrest record or juvenile conviction record. | 7/27/2025 |
Washington HB 1875 | Paid Sick Leave | Requires an employer to allow an employee to use paid sick leave to prepare for or participate in certain immigration proceedings. | 7/27/2025 |
| Washington HB 1905 | Pay Equity | Expands the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act pay equity protections to members of all protected classes. | 7/1/2025 |
Washington HB 2047 | Benefits | Amends the statute converting a qualifying business to a worker-owned cooperative, employee ownership trust, or an employee stock ownership plan. | 6/30/2025 |
Washington SB 5408 | Job Postings | Allows for corrections to wage and salary disclosures in job postings without penalties if made within five business days. | 7/26/2025 |
Washington SB 5337 | Healthcare Workplace Training | Amends the required disaster preparedness training for employees at assisted living facilities to include extreme heat and extreme cold. | 7/27/2025 |
Washington SB 5501 | Hiring | Prohibits employers from requiring a valid driver's license as a condition of employment, unless driving is one of the essential job functions. | 7/27/2025 |
| Washington SB 5525 | Business Closing/RIF | Sets notice requirements for businesses closing or mass layoffs. | 7/27/2025 |
This article provides a general snapshot of generally applicable labor and employment laws taking effect soon. Please note that while some of the laws listed below are industry-specific, this article is not meant to be all-inclusive. In addition, many state legislatures are still active, so new laws are taking effect on a near-daily basis. Littler monitors federal, state and local legislation, executive orders, and administrative regulations and other agency activity that impact the labor and employment landscape. Employers that want to keep abreast of new laws in the jurisdictions in which they operate can learn more here.
This article also does not address new minimum wages taking effect during this period. For information on wage-related laws and regulations taking effect this summer, see Littler’s Semi-Annual Rates Update for Minimum Wage, Tips, and Exempt Pay Increases on July 1, 2025 (and Other Developments).
Source(s):
July Is the New January – 2025 | Littler. (2025, June 17). Littler.com. https://www.littler.com/news-analysis/asap/july-new-january-2025?utm_source=elinfonet