Washington SB 6058: Modifying write-in voting provisions.

Bill Text

CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT
ENGROSSED SENATE BILL 6058
Chapter 176, Laws of 2026
69th Legislature
2026 Regular Session
WAGE ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS—DISCRETION
EFFECTIVE DATE: June 11, 2026
Passed by the Senate March 10, 2026
Yeas 46 Nays 1
DENNY HECK
President of the Senate
Passed by the House March 4, 2026
Yeas 96 Nays 0
LAURIE JINKINS
Speaker of the House of
Representatives
CERTIFICATE
I, Sarah Bannister, Secretary of
the Senate of the State of
Washington, do hereby certify that
the attached is ENGROSSED SENATE
BILL 6058 as passed by the Senate
and the House of Representatives on
the dates hereon set forth.
SARAH BANNISTER
Secretary
Approved March 24, 2026 10:32 AM FILED
March 25, 2026
BOB FERGUSON
Governor of the State of Washington
Secretary of State
State of Washington

AN ACT Relating to adding discretion to wage enforcement actions; 1
and amending RCW 49.48.040 and 49.48.083.2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3
Sec. 1. RCW 49.48.040 and 1987 c 172 s 1 are each amended to 4
read as follows:5
(1) The department of labor and industries may:6
(a) Upon obtaining information indicating an employer may be 7
committing a violation under this chapter and chapters 39.12((,)) and 8
49.46((, and 49.48)) RCW and associated rules, conduct investigations 9
to ensure compliance with this chapter and chapters 39.12((,)) and 10
49.46((, and 49.48)) RCW and associated rules;11
(b) Order the payment of all ((wages)) amounts owed the workers 12
under this chapter and chapters 39.12 and 49.46 RCW, and associated 13
rules and institute actions necessary for the collection of the 14
((sums)) amounts determined owed; and15
(c) Take assignments of ((wage)) claims under this chapter and 16
chapters 39.12 and 49.46 RCW, and associated rules and prosecute 17
actions for the collection of ((wages)) amounts owed of persons who 18
are financially unable to employ counsel when in the judgment of the 19
director of the department the claims are valid and enforceable in 20
the courts.21
ENGROSSED SENATE BILL 6058
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
Passed Legislature - 2026 Regular Session
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Saldaña, Conway, Dhingra, Nobles, Orwall, and Trudeau; by
request of Department of Labor & Industries
Prefiled 01/09/26. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Labor & Commerce.
p. 1 ESB 6058.SL

(2) When the department orders the payment of all amounts owed 1
under subsection (1)(b) of this section in an administrative order, 2
including interest of one percent per month on all wages owed, the 3
department may also assess penalties under RCW 49.48.083(3). The 4
amounts and interest owed must be calculated from the first date 5
amounts were owed to the employee, except that the department may not 6
order the employer to pay any amounts and interest that were owed 7
more than three years before the date the department obtained 8
information indicating an employer may have committed violations 9
under this chapter and chapters 39.12 and 49.46 RCW or associated 10
rules. Appeals to administrative orders issued under this section are 11
conducted pursuant to RCW 49.48.084. Collections of the 12
administrative orders issued under this section are conducted 13
pursuant to RCW 49.48.086.14
(3) The director of the department or any authorized 15
representative may, for the purpose of carrying out RCW 49.48.040 16
through 49.48.080: (a) Issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of 17
witnesses or parties and the production of books, papers, or records; 18
(b) administer oaths and examine witnesses under oath; (c) take the 19
verification of proof of instruments of writing; and (d) take 20
depositions and affidavits. If assignments for wage claims are taken, 21
court costs shall not be payable by the department for prosecuting 22
such suits.23
(((3))) (4) The director shall have a seal inscribed "Department 24
of Labor and Industries—State of Washington" and all courts shall 25
take judicial notice of such seal. Obedience to subpoenas issued by 26
the director or authorized representative shall be enforced by the 27
courts in any county.28
(((4))) (5) The director or authorized representative shall have 29
free access to all places and works of labor. Any employer or any 30
agent or employee of such employer who refuses the director or 31
authorized representative admission therein, or who, when requested 32
by the director or authorized representative, ((wilfully)) willfully 33
neglects or refuses to furnish the director or authorized 34
representative any statistics or information pertaining to his or her 35
lawful duties, which statistics or information may be in his or her 36
possession or under the control of the employer or agent, shall be 37
guilty of a misdemeanor.38
p. 2 ESB 6058.SL

Sec. 2. RCW 49.48.083 and 2023 c 243 s 1 are each amended to 1
read as follows:2
(1)(a) If an employee files a wage complaint with the department, 3
the department ((shall)) may i