Inslee signs dozens of bills promoting safe and fair workplaces, a clean and healthy environment

Nearly 200 people gathered today at IBEW Local 46 to celebrate the signing of two dozen bills that strengthen worker protections and continue Washington’s nation-leading climate and environmental efforts.

“In Washington state, we value our workers and we value the quality of life that comes when people know their air, water and land are healthy and clean,” said Gov. Jay Inslee. “We’re putting people to work building a clean energy economy, ensuring Washington remains a top state for workers, and fighting for the healthy future our children deserve.”

Promoting safety, dignity and fairness for all Washington workers

Washinton has consistently ranked among the top states for both businesses and workers. Policies such as 12–18 weeks of paid family and medical leave, high minimum wage, heat protections for outdoor workers, salary transparency, and more are helping ensure safety, dignity and fairness for all Washington workers.

Inslee signed the following worker protection bills today:

• HB 1905, sponsored by Rep. Sharlett Mena, expands existing pay equity protections to all protected classes under Washington’s anti-discrimination laws.
• HB 2061, sponsored by Rep. Dan Bronoske, closes a loophole that subjects certain healthcare workers to mandatory overtime.
• HB 2084, sponsored by Rep. Mary Fosse, promotes apprenticeship opportunities for incarcerated individuals.
• SB 5778, sponsored by Sen. Karen Keiser, is known as the Employee Free Choice Act and makes Washington the 6th state to prohibit employers from requiring employees to attend meetings where they have to hear employer opinions on religious or political matters.
• SB 5793, sponsored by Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, expands when employees are able to use paid sick leave, including if a child’s school or daycare is closed for certain reasons, or in certain situations when a person needs to care for a family member.

Working for the clean and healthy future Washington deserves

Legislators advanced a lengthy slate of bills that promote clean air and water, and strengthen Washington’s transition to clean energy. Among the climate and environmental bills Inslee signed today are:

• HB 1282, sponsored by Rep. Davina Duerr, is known as the Buy Clean, Buy Fair Act. It will reduce embodied carbon in the construction of state-owned public buildings. The bill requires new reporting and tracking of emissions associated with the manufacture of building materials, and establishes a work group with environmental, government, industry, and labor partners that will support the transition to low-carbon construction.
• HB 1368, sponsored by Rep. Tana Senn, creates a grant program using Climate Commitment Act funding that helps schools begin transitioning to electric buses. Once the cost of electric buses becomes on par with diesel buses, school districts will be required to transition to electric.
• HB 1589, sponsored by Rep. Beth Doglio, is referred to colloquially as the “PSE bill” because it supports the state’s largest utility — Puget Sound Energy — in its planning efforts to transition from methane gas towards all renewable, clean energy sources.
• SB 5931, sponsored by Sen. Jesse Salomon, would establish the nation’s first regulatory process to end the use of 6PPD in motor vehicle tires. 6PPD is a toxic chemical that appears in runoff water that pollutes streams and harms salmon and other aquatic life.
• SB 5972, sponsored by Sen. Marko Liias, would end certain uses of toxic pesticides that kill bees and other pollinators. The bill was championed by First Spouse Trudi Inslee who has been a consistent advocate for bees and pollinators. Inslee also signed SB 5934, sponsored by Sen. Mike Padden and proposed by a Mount Spokane High School student, which encourages the use of pollinator-friendly shrubs and bushes in landscaping.
• SB 6058, sponsored by Sen. Joe Nguyễn and requested by the Department of Ecology, supports Washington state’s efforts to link its one-year-old carbon market created by the Climate Commitment Act to the shared market between California and Quebec. Linkage will improve predictability and stability of auction prices, which will benefit businesses and consumers.

Inslee also signed bills related to reducing lead in cookware, reducing food waste, promoting fusion energy and more. They include: HB 1185, HB 1551, HB 1924, HB 2039, HB 2131, HB 2156, HB 2301, SB 5884, and SB 6039.