WA People
BILL · 2025–26 SESSION · LATEST VERSION ESSB 5525

SB 5525: Layoffs

Concerning employment loss due to businesses closing or mass layoffs.

Summary

  • Requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide 60 days' notice before a business closing or mass layoff.
  • Creates penalties for employers who fail to provide the required notice, subject to certain exceptions.
  • Prohibits employers from including employees who are on paid family or medical leave in a mass layoff, except under certain circumstances.

From the Engrossed Substitute House Bill Report (ESSB 5525), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Enacted Enacted · Chapter 277, Laws of 2025
  1. IntroducedJan 27, 2025
  2. Out of committeeFeb 18, 2025
  3. Passed SenateMar 4, 2025
  4. Passed HouseApr 9, 2025
  5. GovernorMay 13, 2025
  6. LawMay 13, 2025
Prime sponsor
Annette Cleveland (D-49)
Introduced
January 27, 2025 in the Senate
Last action
May 13, 2025
Session law
Chapter 277, Laws of 2025
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
SB 5525, SSB 5525, ESSB 5525

AN ACT Relating to protecting workers facing employment loss due to businesses closing or mass layoffs;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Annette Cleveland (D-49)

7 co-sponsors (7 Democrats, 0 Republicans)

Rebecca Saldaña D-37Bob Hasegawa D-11Marcus Riccelli D-3Manka Dhingra D-45Steve Conway D-29T'wina Nobles D-28Javier Valdez D-46

Votes

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed March 4, 2025
Version voted on: ESSB 5525
30 Yea 19 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat30000
Republican01900
How each member voted
Permalink to this vote

House · Final Passage as Amended by the House

Passed April 9, 2025
Version voted on: ESSB 5525
59 Yea 38 Nay 0 Absent 1 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat59000
Republican03801
How each member voted

Yea (59)

Excused (1)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · Final Passage as Amended by the House

Passed April 22, 2025
Version voted on: ESSB 5525
29 Yea 19 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat29000
Republican01900
How each member voted
Permalink to this vote

History

  1. Effective date 7/27/2025. (ESSB 5525)
  2. Chapter 277, 2025 Laws. (ESSB 5525)
  3. Governor signed. (ESSB 5525)
  4. Delivered to Governor. (ESSB 5525)
  5. Speaker signed. (ESSB 5525)
  6. President signed. (ESSB 5525)
  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 29; nays, 19; absent, 0; excused, 0. (ESSB 5525)
  8. Senate concurred in House amendments. (ESSB 5525)
  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 59; nays, 38; absent, 0; excused, 1. (ESSB 5525)
  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 5525)
  11. Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments. (ESSB 5525)
  12. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (ESSB 5525)
  13. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (ESSB 5525)
  14. Minority; do not pass. (ESSB 5525)
  15. LAWS - Majority; do pass with amendment(s). (ESSB 5525)
  16. LAWS - Executive action taken by committee. (ESSB 5525)
  17. First reading, referred to Labor & Workplace Standards. (ESSB 5525)
  18. Third reading, passed; yeas, 30; nays, 19; absent, 0; excused, 0. (ESSB 5525)
  19. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 5525)
  20. Floor amendment(s) adopted. (ESSB 5525)
  21. 1st substitute bill substituted. (ESSB 5525)
  22. 1st substitute bill substituted.
  23. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (ESSB 5525)
  24. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
  25. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (ESSB 5525)
  26. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
  27. LC - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (ESSB 5525)
  28. Minority; do not pass. (ESSB 5525)
  29. Minority; do not pass.
  30. LC - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  31. First reading, referred to Labor & Commerce.

SB 5525 in other sessions

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

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