Washington State Passes (Yet Another) Paid Family and Medical Leave Amendment, and It’s a Big One
At a Glance Amendments to Washington State’s Paid Family and Medical Leave law would extend job protection, address leave stacking, reduce claim duration, expand rights to health benefits continuation, impose notice requirements, and provide grants to small employers . Changes are slated to take effect on January 1, 2026, if the new amendment is funded in an appropriations bill. Washington employers take note: Significant changes to the Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave (WA PFML) law are on the horizon that will impact every employer in the Evergreen State. The bill amending the law, HB 1213 , is complex with several components that are a mixed bag for employers. It will l essen the eligibility requirements for job protection, provide a mechanism for employers to count leave taken under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) against the total amount of WA PFML time qualifying for job protection, reduce the minimum claim duration, expand employee rights to h...