Washington’s minimum wage will jump to $17.13 per hour on January 1, giving the state the highest minimum wage in the United States as new laws ranging from worker protections to nicotine taxes take effect.
The increase is part of an annual cost-of-living adjustment tied to inflation, according to the Washington State Department of Labour and Industries. Several cities have specific minimum wages even higher than the $17.13 base.
Additionally, an employee must make at least $1,541.70 per week, or $80,168.40 per year, to be exempt from overtime.
But the minimum wage increase represents just one of numerous changes taking effect as the calendar turns.
Striking workers can collect unemployment
Starting Thursday, striking workers can collect unemployment benefits under Senate Bill 5041.
Workers on strike can now be eligible for up to six weeks of unemployment insurance under the new legislation.
“Striking is a last resort, and this bill will help level the playing field for workers trying to exercise their right to collectively bargain for fair wages and safe workplace conditions,” Sen. Marcus Riccelli, a Spokane Democrat, said. “Affordability is one of the top issues for people in my district. This legislation will help make sure people who do important jobs and important work have fair pay, good benefits, and safe work conditions.”
Benefits would begin 15 to 21 days after the strike starts, depending on when it officially begins.
Paid family leave expands
The state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Programme, which provides Washington employees with paid time off from work for serious personal and family medical leave, is being expanded under House Bill 1213.
The bill lowers the employer-size threshold for employment protection rights under PFML, whilst also providing employees with protection if they began working at least 180 calendar days before taking leave.
The law previously required employers with 50 or more employees in Washington to provide job protection. Now, employers with 25 to 49 employees must provide job protection. In 2027, the threshold will drop to 15 to 24 employees, and then to employers with eight to 14 employees in 2028.
Workplace violence prevention
Workplace violence prevention plans must implement more frequent and structured updates after House Bill 1162 was signed into law.
This bill requires workplace violence prevention plans to establish timely investigations of workplace violence incidents within healthcare facilities. Workplace violence prevention plans will also require annual updates based on investigation findings.
Isolated worker protections
Second-Substitute House Bill 1524 expands previous legislation to further protect isolated workers from sexual violence in the workplace.
Isolated employees are defined as workers who spend at least 50 per cent of their time alone. Security guards, janitors, and housekeeping staff are typical isolated employees.
Seventeen per cent of workplaces with isolated workers in Washington are complying with the state’s requirements to protect their employees, according to reports. Washington’s Labour and Industries Department will be responsible for enforcing these enhancements.
Hate crime victim leave
More leave and safety accommodations will be installed January 1 for employees who are victims of hate crimes or bias incidents under Senate Bill 5101.
Employees can now take reasonable leave from work to obtain assistance in certain situations through Leave and Safety Accommodation, and the employer cannot deny a reasonable safety accommodation unless it would place undue hardship on the employer’s business.
Accommodations include the employee changing their schedule, being transferred, or reassigned.
Nicotine tax
Washington will implement a 95 per cent excise tax on all tobacco and nicotine products beginning January 1 under Senate Bill 5814. All nicotine-containing products, including e-cigarettes, nicotine patches, vapes, and synthetic nicotine, are affected by this tax.
A nicotine product priced at $7 in 2025 will cost $15.06 after the excise and sales taxes are added.
Retailers and distributors will be required to report any inventory changes on their first tax return after the effective date.
Blood type on driver’s licences
Senate Bill 5689 allows people to voluntarily have their blood type placed on their driver’s licence or identification card.
Washington is amongst the first states to offer blood type information on state-issued IDs. Arkansas passed a similar bill earlier this year.
“This legislation will help first responders and trauma teams access vital information faster, reducing delays in critical care,” Governor Bob Ferguson said. “In other words, this bill will literally save lives here in Washington State.”
Including blood type information on drivers’ licences and identification cards can enhance emergency medical response, saving time and potentially lives in critical situations, proponents of the bill claimed.
Movie theatre captioning
By Thursday, movie theatres must offer screenings with closed and open captioning under Senate Bill 5486. Theatres will be required to advertise which screenings are captioned.
These screenings must also be available during specific periods, including within the first two weeks of a film’s release and during peak business hours.
Companies that operate four or fewer theatres must provide an open-captioned screening within eight days of receiving a request.
Columbia River fishing endorsement
Any person 15 years old or older will be required to have a Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement in order to recreationally fish for steelhead or salmon in the Columbia River and its tributaries under House Bill 2003.
Endorsements are an annual requirement in addition to a valid recreational fishing licence.
Proceeds from the endorsement will go toward facilitating selective recreational salmon and steelhead fishing on the Columbia River and its tributaries, including monitoring, hatchery production, pinniped removal, and enforcement.
The next legislative session begins January 12.
The minimum wage increase to $17.13 represents a continuation of Washington’s position as the highest minimum wage state, though the practical impact varies dramatically by location. Seattle’s minimum wage is already higher, meaning the state increase primarily affects workers outside major cities.
The striking worker unemployment benefits represent a significant shift in labour relations. Historically, strikes meant complete loss of income, giving employers leverage during labour disputes. Six weeks of unemployment insurance reduces that leverage.
The 15 to 21 day waiting period before benefits begin means workers must still endure two to three weeks without pay, maintaining some deterrent against strikes whilst providing eventual relief for extended disputes.
The Paid Family and Medical Leave expansion phasing in over three years demonstrates legislative awareness that small businesses need time to adjust. Dropping from 50 employees to 25 in 2026, then to 15 in 2027, and eight in 2028 gives employers years to prepare.
However, the eight-employee threshold in 2028 will affect even very small businesses, potentially creating compliance burdens for family-run operations with minimal administrative capacity.
The workplace violence prevention requirements targeting healthcare facilities reflect the reality that hospital staff, particularly emergency department workers and psychiatric unit employees, face assault risks higher than most professions.
The isolated worker sexual violence protections addressing the 17 per cent compliance rate suggests widespread violation of existing requirements. Security guards, janitors, and housekeeping staff working alone at night face particular vulnerability.
The 95 per cent excise tax on nicotine products essentially doubles the price, turning a $7 product into $15.06 after excise and sales taxes. This dramatic increase aims to reduce tobacco and nicotine use through price deterrence.
Retailers and distributors reporting inventory changes on their first tax return prevents stockpiling products at pre-tax prices then selling them after the tax takes effect.
The blood type on driver’s licences represents a low-cost, potentially high-impact change. In trauma situations where patients can’t communicate and blood typing takes precious minutes, having that information immediately available could prevent transfusion reactions.
The movie theatre captioning requirements address accessibility for deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons whilst also benefiting people who simply prefer reading dialogue. The requirement that captioned showings occur within the first two weeks and during peak hours prevents theatres from relegating them to inconvenient times.
The Columbia River fishing endorsement creates an additional revenue stream specifically dedicated to salmon and steelhead management whilst also providing data on fishing pressure through endorsement sales tracking.
