WA People
BILL · 2025–26 SESSION · LATEST VERSION 2SHB 2479

HB 2479: Unpaid wage recovery

Concerning the recovery of unpaid wages.

Summary

  • Creates the Wage Recovery Program and Wage Recovery Account to allow unpaid low-wage workers to receive disbursements if certain conditions are met.
  • Gives the Department of Labor and Industries discretion to investigate complaints under the Wage Payment Act.
  • Increases the minimum civil penalty amount and removes the maximum cap for willful violations, and requires penalties for repeat willful violators and willful violators that have previously settled or resolved prior wage complaints.

From the Second Substitute House Bill Report (2SHB 2479), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Enacted Enacted · Chapter 53, Laws of 2026
  1. IntroducedJan 14, 2026
  2. Out of committeeFeb 9, 2026
  3. Passed HouseFeb 13, 2026
  4. Passed SenateMar 4, 2026
  5. GovernorMar 14, 2026
  6. LawMar 14, 2026
Prime sponsor
Mary Fosse (D-38)
Introduced
January 14, 2026 in the House
Last action
March 14, 2026
Session law
Chapter 53, Laws of 2026
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
HB 2479, SHB 2479, 2SHB 2479

AN ACT Relating to the recovery of unpaid wages;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Mary Fosse (D-38)

16 co-sponsors (15 Democrats, 1 Republican)

Suzanne Schmidt R-4Liz Berry D-36Osman Salahuddin D-48Janice Zahn D-41Chris Stearns D-47Lisa Parshley D-22Roger Goodman D-45Alex Ramel D-40Beth Doglio D-22Dan Bronoske D-28Julio Cortes D-38Edwin Obras D-33Gerry Pollet D-46Nicole Macri D-43Greg Nance D-23Lisa Callan D-5

Votes

House · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed February 13, 2026
Version voted on: 2SHB 2479
94 Yea 0 Nay 0 Absent 4 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat58001
Republican36003
How each member voted

Yea (94)

Excused (4)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed March 4, 2026
Version voted on: 2SHB 2479
49 Yea 0 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat30000
Republican19000
How each member voted

Yea (49)

Permalink to this vote

History

  1. Effective date 6/11/2026*. (2SHB 2479)
  2. Chapter 53, 2026 Laws. (2SHB 2479)
  3. Governor signed. (2SHB 2479)
  4. President signed. (2SHB 2479)
  5. Delivered to Governor. (2SHB 2479)
  6. Speaker signed. (2SHB 2479)
  7. Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0. (2SHB 2479)
  8. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (2SHB 2479)
  9. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (2SHB 2479)
  10. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (2SHB 2479)
  11. Minority; without recommendation. (2SHB 2479)
  12. WM - Majority; do pass. (2SHB 2479)
  13. Referred to Ways & Means. (2SHB 2479)
  14. Minority; do not pass. (2SHB 2479)
  15. And refer to Ways & Means. (2SHB 2479)
  16. LC - Majority; do pass. (2SHB 2479)
  17. First reading, referred to Labor & Commerce. (2SHB 2479)
  18. Third reading, passed; yeas, 94; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 4. (2SHB 2479)
  19. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (2SHB 2479)
  20. 2nd substitute bill substituted. (2SHB 2479)
  21. 2nd substitute bill substituted. (SHB 2479)
  22. 2nd substitute bill substituted.
  23. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (2SHB 2479)
  24. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (SHB 2479)
  25. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
  26. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (2SHB 2479)
  27. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (SHB 2479)
  28. Referred to Rules 2 Review.
  29. APP - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (2SHB 2479)
  30. APP - Executive action taken by committee. (SHB 2479)
  31. APP - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SHB 2479)
  32. APP - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  33. APP - Executive action taken by committee.
  34. Referred to Appropriations. (SHB 2479)
  35. Referred to Appropriations.
  36. LAWS - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SHB 2479)
  37. LAWS - Executive action taken by committee.
  38. LAWS - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  39. First reading, referred to Labor & Workplace Standards.

HB 2479 in other sessions

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

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