WA People
BILL · 2023–24 SESSION · LATEST VERSION ESSB 5778

SB 5778: Employer political speech

Protecting the rights of workers to refrain from attending meetings or listening to their employer's speech on political or religious matters.

Summary

  • Prohibits an employer from taking adverse action against an employee for refusal to attend or participate in an employer-sponsored meeting or refusal to listen to speech, the primary purpose of which is to communicate the employer's opinion concerning religious or political matters.

From the Engrossed Substitute House Bill Report (ESSB 5778), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Enacted Enacted · Chapter 357, Laws of 2024
  1. IntroducedJan 8, 2024
  2. Out of committeeJan 18, 2024
  3. Passed SenateFeb 7, 2024
  4. Passed HouseFeb 29, 2024
  5. GovernorMar 28, 2024
  6. LawMar 28, 2024
Prime sponsor
Karen Keiser (D-33)
Introduced
January 8, 2024 in the Senate
Last action
March 28, 2024
Session law
Chapter 357, Laws of 2024
Companion bill
HB 1940
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
SB 5778, ESSB 5778

AN ACT Relating to protecting the rights of workers exercising their right to refrain from attending meetings or listening to their employer's speech on political or religious matters;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Karen Keiser (D-33)

21 co-sponsors (21 Democrats, 0 Republicans)

John Lovick D-44Steve Conway D-29Yasmin Trudeau D-27Derek Stanford D-1Emily Randall D-26Sharon Shewmake D-42Manka Dhingra D-45Kevin Van De Wege D-24Joe Nguyen D-34Javier Valdez D-46Claudia Kauffman D-47Bob Hasegawa D-11Liz Lovelett D-40Marko Liias D-21Noel Frame D-36Senator D-22Annette Cleveland D-49Patty Kuderer D-48T'wina Nobles D-28Jesse Salomon D-32Claire Wilson D-30

Votes

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed February 7, 2024
Version voted on: ESSB 5778
28 Yea 20 Nay 0 Absent 1 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat27101
Republican11900
How each member voted

Excused (1)

Permalink to this vote

House · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed February 29, 2024
Version voted on: ESSB 5778
55 Yea 41 Nay 0 Absent 2 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat55201
Republican03901
How each member voted

Yea (55)

Excused (2)

Permalink to this vote

History

  1. Effective date 6/6/2024. (ESSB 5778)
  2. Chapter 357, 2024 Laws. (ESSB 5778)
  3. Governor signed. (ESSB 5778)
  4. Delivered to Governor. (ESSB 5778)
  5. Speaker signed. (ESSB 5778)
  6. President signed. (ESSB 5778)
  7. Third reading, passed; yeas, 55; nays, 41; absent, 0; excused, 2. (ESSB 5778)
  8. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 5778)
  9. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (ESSB 5778)
  10. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (ESSB 5778)
  11. LAWS - Majority; do pass. (ESSB 5778)
  12. LAWS - Executive action taken by committee. (ESSB 5778)
  13. First reading, referred to Labor & Workplace Standards. (ESSB 5778)
  14. Third reading, passed; yeas, 28; nays, 20; absent, 0; excused, 1. (ESSB 5778)
  15. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 5778)
  16. Floor amendment(s) adopted. (ESSB 5778)
  17. 1st substitute bill substituted. (ESSB 5778)
  18. 1st substitute bill substituted.
  19. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (ESSB 5778)
  20. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
  21. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (ESSB 5778)
  22. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
  23. LC - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (ESSB 5778)
  24. Minority; do not pass. (ESSB 5778)
  25. Minority; do not pass.
  26. LC - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  27. First reading, referred to Labor & Commerce.
  28. Prefiled for introduction.

SB 5778 in other sessions

Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.

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