WA People
BILL · 2025–26 SESSION · LATEST VERSION E2SHB 1213

HB 1213: Paid family & medical leave

Expanding protections for workers in the state paid family and medical leave program.

Summary

  • Lowers the employer size threshold for employment protection rights in the Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Program, and provides an employee with protection if he or she began employment with a qualifying employer at least 180 calendar days before taking leave.
  • Allows employers to prevent stacking of certain employment protection rights by extending employment protection in the PFML Program to periods of unpaid leave protected by the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, so long as the employer provides certain notices to the employee, and providing that employment protection expires after certain periods.
  • Expands health care coverage protection during any period in which an employee receives PFML Program benefits and is also entitled to employment protection.
  • Expands access to grants for small employers to offset the costs of employees' use of leave in the PFML Program.

From the Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill Report (E2SHB 1213), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Enacted Enacted · Chapter 304, Laws of 2025
  1. IntroducedJan 13, 2025
  2. Out of committeeFeb 28, 2025
  3. Passed HouseMar 11, 2025
  4. Passed SenateApr 15, 2025
  5. GovernorMay 17, 2025
  6. LawMay 17, 2025
Prime sponsor
Liz Berry (D-36)
Introduced
January 13, 2025 in the House
Last action
May 17, 2025
Session law
Chapter 304, Laws of 2025
Companion bill
SB 5539
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
HB 1213, SHB 1213, 2SHB 1213, E2SHB 1213

AN ACT Relating to expanding protections for workers in the state paid family and medical leave program;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Liz Berry (D-36)

19 co-sponsors (19 Democrats, 0 Republicans)

Mary Fosse D-38Julia Reed D-36Edwin Obras D-33Joe Fitzgibbon D-34Emily Alvarado D-34Sharlett Mena D-29Nicole Macri D-43Cindy Ryu D-32Darya Farivar D-46Beth Doglio D-22Tarra Simmons D-23Strom Peterson D-21Chipalo Street D-37Sharon Wylie D-49Gerry Pollet D-46Timm Ormsby D-3Debra Lekanoff D-40Osman Salahuddin D-48Natasha Hill D-3

Votes

House · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed March 11, 2025
Version voted on: E2SHB 1213
55 Yea 41 Nay 0 Absent 2 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat55301
Republican03801
How each member voted

Yea (55)

Excused (2)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Passed April 15, 2025
Version voted on: E2SHB 1213
28 Yea 20 Nay 0 Absent 1 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat28101
Republican01900
How each member voted

Excused (1)

Permalink to this vote

House · Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Passed April 19, 2025
Version voted on: E2SHB 1213
57 Yea 38 Nay 0 Absent 3 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat57101
Republican03702
How each member voted

Yea (57)

Excused (3)

Permalink to this vote
1 other recorded vote (amendments, procedural motions)

House · Amendment 715 by Jacobsen (page 14, line 20)

March 10, 2025
Version voted on: E2SHB 1213
44 Yea 51 Nay 0 Absent 3 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat75101
Republican37002
How each member voted

Nay (51)

Excused (3)

Permalink to this vote

History

  1. Effective date 1/1/2026. (E2SHB 1213)
  2. Chapter 304, 2025 Laws. (E2SHB 1213)
  3. Governor signed. (E2SHB 1213)
  4. President signed. (E2SHB 1213)
  5. Delivered to Governor. (E2SHB 1213)
  6. Speaker signed. (E2SHB 1213)
  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 57; nays, 38; absent, 0; excused, 3. (E2SHB 1213)
  8. House concurred in Senate amendments. (E2SHB 1213)
  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 28; nays, 20; absent, 0; excused, 1. (E2SHB 1213)
  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (E2SHB 1213)
  11. Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments. (E2SHB 1213)
  12. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (E2SHB 1213)
  13. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (E2SHB 1213)
  14. Minority; do not pass. (E2SHB 1213)
  15. WM - Majority; do pass with amendment(s). (E2SHB 1213)
  16. Referred to Ways & Means. (E2SHB 1213)
  17. And refer to Ways & Means. (E2SHB 1213)
  18. Minority; do not pass. (E2SHB 1213)
  19. LC - Majority; do pass with amendment(s). (E2SHB 1213)
  20. First reading, referred to Labor & Commerce. (E2SHB 1213)
  21. Third reading, passed; yeas, 55; nays, 41; absent, 0; excused, 2. (E2SHB 1213)
  22. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (E2SHB 1213)
  23. Floor amendment(s) adopted. (E2SHB 1213)
  24. Held on calendar. (E2SHB 1213)
  25. 2nd substitute bill substituted. (E2SHB 1213)
  26. 2nd substitute bill substituted. (SHB 1213)
  27. 2nd substitute bill substituted.
  28. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (E2SHB 1213)
  29. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (SHB 1213)
  30. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
  31. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (E2SHB 1213)
  32. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (SHB 1213)
  33. Referred to Rules 2 Review.
  34. Minority; without recommendation. (E2SHB 1213)
  35. Minority; do not pass. (E2SHB 1213)
  36. APP - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (E2SHB 1213)
  37. APP - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SHB 1213)
  38. Minority; do not pass. (SHB 1213)
  39. Minority; without recommendation. (SHB 1213)
  40. APP - Executive action taken by committee. (SHB 1213)
  41. Minority; without recommendation.
  42. Minority; do not pass.
  43. APP - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  44. APP - Executive action taken by committee.
  45. Referred to Appropriations. (SHB 1213)
  46. Referred to Appropriations.
  47. LAWS - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SHB 1213)
  48. Minority; do not pass. (SHB 1213)
  49. LAWS - Executive action taken by committee.
  50. Minority; do not pass.
  51. LAWS - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  52. First reading, referred to Labor & Workplace Standards.
  53. Prefiled for introduction.

HB 1213 in other sessions

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

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