WA People
BILL · 2025–26 SESSION · LATEST VERSION ESSB 5023

SB 5023: Domestic workers

Providing labor market protections for domestic workers.

Summary

  • Establishes employment and labor protections for domestic workers, including employees and independent contractors working as nannies, house cleaners, home care workers, cooks, gardeners, and household managers.
  • Allows a domestic worker to seek remedies for violations by filing an administrative complaint with the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) and/or a private cause of action.
  • Requires L&I to study models for domestic workers to access workers' compensation coverage.

From the Engrossed Substitute House Bill Report (ESSB 5023), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Did not pass Did not pass · passed Senate, stalled in House
  1. IntroducedJan 13, 2025
  2. Out of committeeFeb 18, 2025
  3. Passed SenateMar 5, 2025
  4. Passed Housestopped here
  5. Governor
  6. Law
Prime sponsor
Rebecca Saldaña (D-37)
Introduced
January 13, 2025 in the Senate
Last action
January 12, 2026
Companion bill
HB 1561
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
SB 5023, SSB 5023, ESSB 5023

AN ACT Relating to providing labor market protections for domestic workers;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Rebecca Saldaña (D-37)

9 co-sponsors (9 Democrats, 0 Republicans)

Yasmin Trudeau D-27Steve Conway D-29Noel Frame D-36T'wina Nobles D-28Jesse Salomon D-32Derek Stanford D-1Javier Valdez D-46Lisa Wellman D-41Claire Wilson D-30

Votes

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed March 5, 2025
Version voted on: ESSB 5023
29 Yea 20 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat29100
Republican01900
How each member voted
Permalink to this vote

History

  1. Senate Rules "X" file. (ESSB 5023)
  2. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status. (ESSB 5023)
  3. By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading. (ESSB 5023)
  4. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (ESSB 5023)
  5. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (ESSB 5023)
  6. Minority; without recommendation. (ESSB 5023)
  7. Minority; do not pass. (ESSB 5023)
  8. APP - Majority; do pass with amendment(s). (ESSB 5023)
  9. APP - Executive action taken by committee. (ESSB 5023)
  10. Referred to Appropriations. (ESSB 5023)
  11. LAWS - Executive action taken by committee. (ESSB 5023)
  12. Minority; do not pass. (ESSB 5023)
  13. LAWS - Majority; do pass. (ESSB 5023)
  14. First reading, referred to Labor & Workplace Standards. (ESSB 5023)
  15. Third reading, passed; yeas, 29; nays, 20; absent, 0; excused, 0. (ESSB 5023)
  16. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 5023)
  17. Floor amendment(s) adopted. (ESSB 5023)
  18. 1st substitute bill substituted. (ESSB 5023)
  19. 1st substitute bill substituted.
  20. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (ESSB 5023)
  21. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
  22. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (ESSB 5023)
  23. Minority; do not pass. (ESSB 5023)
  24. Minority; do not pass.
  25. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
  26. LC - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (ESSB 5023)
  27. LC - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  28. First reading, referred to Labor & Commerce.
  29. Prefiled for introduction.

SB 5023 in other sessions

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

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