HB 2355 — Establishing labor protections for domestic workers.

H-3278.1H-2597.3 SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2355 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session By House Labor & Workplace Standards (originally sponsored by Representatives Thomas, Stonier, Berry, Mena, Ramel, Reed, Obras, Parshley, Street, Taylor, Kloba, Scott, Ryu, Doglio, Gregerson, Ormsby, Berg, Reeves, Macri, Fosse, and Hill)Hill READPrefiled FIRST01/09/26. TIME 02/03/26.

Read first time 01/12/26.

Referred to Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards.

1 SHBHB 2355 (iii) Works or provides services in one or more private residences as a nanny, child care provider, home care worker, personal care provider, housekeeper or cleaner, cook, gardener, or household manager.

(ii) A person performing babysitting on ana irregularcasual andlabor uncertainbasis; basis that is incidental in nature and duration;

2 SHBHB 2355 (i) Collect or receive from a domestic worker a rebate of any part of the compensation paid by the hiring entity to the domestic worker;

or (ii) Willfully,Willfully and with intent to deprive the domestic worker of any part of the domestic worker's compensation,compensation pay a domestic worker a lower rate of compensation than what the hiring entity is obligated to pay the domestic worker by agreement or contract.

(b) This subsection does not make it unlawful for a hiring entity to withhold or divert any portion of a domestic worker's compensation when required or empowered so to do so by state or federal law or when a deduction has been expressly authorized in writing in advance by the domestic worker for a lawful purpose accruing to the benefit of such domestic worker.

3 SHBHB 2355 four-week written notification period before termination of the domestic worker's position or services.

4 SHBHB 2355 least eight of the most commonly spoken languages in the state.

The disclosure statement must include notice of federal and state laws governing family and medical leave.

(1) A hiring entity may not:

(a)(1) Subject a domestic worker to conduct or allow a domestic worker to be subjected to conduct that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment with the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with the domestic worker's performance;

(b)(2) Require or request that a domestic worker allow the hiring entity to take or maintain possession, or allow another person to take or maintain possession, of any of a domestic worker's personal effects including, but not limited to, any legal documents, forms of identification, passports, or immigration documents;

(c)(3) Monitor or record, or allow another person to monitor or record, through any means, the activities of a domestic worker using a bathroom or similar facility, of a domestic worker in the domestic worker's private living quarters, or while the domestic worker is engaged in personal activities associated with dressing or changing clothes;

(d)(4) Monitor, record, or interfere, or allow another person to monitor, record, or interfere, with the private communications of a domestic worker;

(e)(5) Request, direct, or require, as a condition of work, that a domestic worker waive the worker's rights under federal, state, or local law;

or (f)(6) Request, direct, or require, as a condition of work, that the domestic worker agree to a mandatory predispute arbitration clause for claims of their legal rights, a nondisclosure or nondisparagement agreement that inhibits the domestic worker from pursuing claims or complaints under this chapter, or a noncompete agreement preventing a domestic worker from working for other hiring entities or in other residencesp. following the termination or conclusion of the domestic worker's work for the hiring entity.

p.5 HB 2355 residences following the termination or conclusion of the domestic worker's work for the hiring entity.

5 SHB 2355 (2) The department may adopt rules to establish additional remedies for violations of this section.

The department may apply sections 6, 7, 8, and 9 of this act to enforce any remedies established under this section.

participating in political speech;

6 SHBHB 2355 rebut the presumption with clear and convincing evidence that the adverse action was taken for a permissible purpose.

7 SHBHB 2355 If the complaint is not otherwise resolved, then the department may issue a citation and notice of assessment.

8 SHBHB 2355 hiring entity and domestic worker setting forth good cause for an extension of the period and specifying the duration of the extension.

(b) The department may not investigate any alleged violation occurring more than three years before the date that the domestic worker filed the complaint.complaint for all other violations of this chapter.

9 SHBHB 2355 violation, or if the domestic worker voluntarily and on the domestic worker's own initiative withdraws the complaint.

10 SHBHB 2355 NEW SECTION.

(1) Any hiring entity or other person aggrieved by a citation assessing a civil penalty, a determination of compliance, or other order issued by the department under this chapter may appeal the citation, determination, or order to the director by filing a notice of appeal with the director within 30 daysdays. of the department's issuance of the assessment.

11 SHBHB 2355 jurisdiction to recover the actual damages sustained by the worker, plus reasonable attorneys' fees and costs.

12 SHBHB 2355 of the director.

13 SHBHB 2355 not engaged in the performance of active duties, except this exemption does not apply to any individual employed by an employer as a domestic worker as defined under section 1 of this act;

14 SHBHB 2355 employee from engaging in protected activities or exercising a right under this chapter, chapter 49.12, 49.30, or 49.48 RCW, or any rules issued by the department of labor and industries pursuant to those chapters;

15 SHBHB 2355 NEW SECTION.

16 SHBHB 2355