WA People
BILL · 2025–26 SESSION · LATEST VERSION SHB 1308

HB 1308: Access to personnel records

Concerning access to personnel records.

Summary

  • Requires a private employer to provide an employee or former employee with a copy of the employee's personnel file within 21 days of a request, and requires a public employer to do so in accordance with the requirements and procedures of the Public Records Act.
  • Requires a private employer to provide to a former employee, upon request, a statement of the employee's discharge date and reasons, if any, for the discharge.
  • Creates a private cause of action with statutory damages for enforcing the requirements for private employers to disclose personnel files and provide written discharge statements.

From the Substitute House Bill Report (SHB 1308), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Enacted Enacted · Chapter 273, Laws of 2025
  1. IntroducedJan 15, 2025
  2. Out of committeeFeb 4, 2025
  3. Passed HouseMar 7, 2025
  4. Passed SenateApr 9, 2025
  5. GovernorMay 13, 2025
  6. LawMay 13, 2025
Prime sponsor
Julia Reed (D-36)
Introduced
January 15, 2025 in the House
Last action
May 13, 2025
Session law
Chapter 273, Laws of 2025
Companion bill
SB 5345
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
HB 1308, SHB 1308

AN ACT Relating to access to personnel records;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Julia Reed (D-36)

24 co-sponsors (24 Democrats, 0 Republicans)

Mary Fosse D-38Emily Alvarado D-34My-Linh Thai D-41Beth Doglio D-22Julio Cortes D-38Sharlett Mena D-29Edwin Obras D-33Shaun Scott D-43Jamila Taylor D-30Nicole Macri D-43Lillian Ortiz-Self D-21Gerry Pollet D-46Osman Salahuddin D-48Liz Berry D-36Davina Duerr D-1Kristine Reeves D-30Roger Goodman D-45Chipalo Street D-37Tarra Simmons D-23Amy Walen D-48Timm Ormsby D-3Alex Ramel D-40Greg Nance D-23Lisa Parshley D-22

Votes

House · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed March 7, 2025
Version voted on: SHB 1308
56 Yea 41 Nay 0 Absent 1 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat56201
Republican03900
How each member voted

Yea (56)

Excused (1)

Permalink to this vote

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

Passed April 9, 2025
Version voted on: SHB 1308
32 Yea 17 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat29100
Republican31600
How each member voted
Permalink to this vote

House · Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Passed April 17, 2025
Version voted on: SHB 1308
56 Yea 40 Nay 0 Absent 2 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat56201
Republican03801
How each member voted

Yea (56)

Excused (2)

Permalink to this vote

History

  1. Effective date 7/27/2025. (SHB 1308)
  2. Chapter 273, 2025 Laws. (SHB 1308)
  3. Governor signed. (SHB 1308)
  4. Delivered to Governor. (SHB 1308)
  5. President signed. (SHB 1308)
  6. Speaker signed. (SHB 1308)
  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 56; nays, 40; absent, 0; excused, 2. (SHB 1308)
  8. House concurred in Senate amendments. (SHB 1308)
  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 32; nays, 17; absent, 0; excused, 0. (SHB 1308)
  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (SHB 1308)
  11. Floor amendment(s) adopted. (SHB 1308)
  12. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (SHB 1308)
  13. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (SHB 1308)
  14. Minority; do not pass. (SHB 1308)
  15. LC - Majority; do pass. (SHB 1308)
  16. First reading, referred to Labor & Commerce. (SHB 1308)
  17. Third reading, passed; yeas, 56; nays, 41; absent, 0; excused, 1. (SHB 1308)
  18. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (SHB 1308)
  19. 1st substitute bill substituted. (SHB 1308)
  20. 1st substitute bill substituted.
  21. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (SHB 1308)
  22. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
  23. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (SHB 1308)
  24. Referred to Rules 2 Review.
  25. LAWS - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SHB 1308)
  26. Minority; without recommendation. (SHB 1308)
  27. Minority; do not pass. (SHB 1308)
  28. Minority; do not pass.
  29. Minority; without recommendation.
  30. LAWS - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  31. LAWS - Executive action taken by committee.
  32. First reading, referred to Labor & Workplace Standards.

HB 1308 in other sessions

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

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