What didn’t pass: High-profile bills that failed in the Washington legislature this session

The state legislature failed to advance several high-profile bills this session, including barring former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from becoming police officers and a 32-hour work week mandate.

No action taken on 32-hour work bill

Lawmakers were considering HB 2611, a proposal to move the state from a standard 40-hour work week to a 32-hour work week.

“Americans work 125 more hours yearly than workers in Canada, 204 more, annually, than workers in Japan, 279 more, annually, than workers in the UK, and 470 hours more annually than people in Germany,” Washington Democratic Representative Shaun Scott said.

San Juan County moved to the shorter work week in 2023. Scott said it could serve as a model for the rest of the state.

“Officials have reported an 18% decrease in sick calls, a 216% increase in people applying for job openings, and an 83% rate of workers who saw improved work-life balance as a result of an eight-hour reduction in the work week,” Scott said.

However, the Washington Hospitality Association was among a group of business and industry leaders who think the shorter week is a bad idea.

“We must respectfully oppose the proposal to reduce the standard work week and appreciate employers being able to set their own standards and culture. I know I personally find joy in my long hours and work,” Andrea Reay with the Washington Hospitality Association said.

HB 2611 was heard by the House Committee on Labor and Workplace Standards, but no further action was taken.

Bill banning former ICE agents from being hired as police officers dies

Another controversial bill that died was HB 2641, which would have banned law enforcement agencies in Washington from hiring someone who was hired as a sworn officer of ICE on or after January 20, 2025, when President Donald Trump began his second term.

“In this Washington, we have worked incredibly hard to build trust between law enforcement and community,” Rep. Tarra Simmons, D-Bremerton, stated in a press release. “In most Washington agencies, the men and women who step up to serve have developed a culture of holding each other accountable to the highest professional standards. The last thing we need is infiltration of ICE agents trained during the Trump Administration to send us backwards.”

Republican lawmakers argued the measure could be discriminatory.

“You led to the fact that you didn’t believe this policy would be discriminative in nature, but if they had personal merit, they were working within the Constitution,” Republican Rep. Brian Burnett said, according to FOX 13. “They were within their oath of office, within the federal law. Why would you hold that against that person if they haven’t violated anything or done criminal law violation?”

An executive session was scheduled for HB 2641, but no action was taken in the House Committee on Community Safety.

Child online safety bill fails to advance

HB 1834, a bill aimed at protecting Washington children online, also failed to advance after being pulled from the Rules Committee.

The bill sought to regulate “addictive feeds,” but the Washington Policy Center argued it undermined parents’ ability to control their children’s social media use.

Bill to restrict encampment removals fails

Lawmakers debated House Bill 2489, but it failed to advance in the House Rules Committee. The bill would have barred local governments from enforcing anti-camping laws or removing encampments. Enforcement would only be allowed if officials could prove that a shelter meeting strict requirements was available to a specific person at that time and location.

Under the bill, shelters would have had to allow pets, partners, and personal belongings. Programs requiring sobriety, treatment participation, or compliance with behavioral rules could have been deemed inadequate, effectively preventing cities from using those options to justify enforcement.

Democrats said the bill safeguarded against criminalizing homelessness. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Washington backed the measure, saying it would ensure people are not treated as criminals simply for being unhoused.

Republicans opposed the bill, arguing it would further limit cities’ ability to address encampments and respond to community concerns.

Metal theft bill fails to advance

HB 2213, a bill targeting metal theft, also failed to advance out of committee. The bill would have imposed a 10-day “holding period” on metal recyclers before they could sell scrap, and required them to upload pictures of wire to a searchable database. It would also have allowed police to seize wire that they believe was stolen, even after it was sold.

No movement on THC tax hike

HB 2075 didn’t make it far either. The bill would have increased taxes on high-THC cannabis products.

Contributing: James Lynch, Jillian Raftery, and Luke Duecy, KIRO Newsradio; Julia Dallas and Frank Sumrall, MyNorthwest