Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Passed Senate 1 D cosponsors

SB 5548 — Concerning workers' compensation benefits.

Last action — By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced January 28, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the House.

Prognosis

Stalled 28% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Moderate

How often bills like it became law.

  • Passed Senate

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 D).

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

137 added · 148 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of Senate Bill 5548 has made minor adjustments to the language regarding compensation payments for workers injured on the job. It clarifies how and to whom these payments will be made if the injured worker does not have legal custody of their child. This change is important because it ensures that payments go directly to the person who has legal custody, which can help support the child's needs more effectively. Overall, this amendment aims to provide clarity and fairness in the distribution of benefits.

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S-1750.1 SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5548 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By Senate Labor & Commerce (originally sponsored by Senator Shewmake) READ FIRST TIME 02/21/25.
S-0912.1 SENATE BILL 5548 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By Senator Shewmake AN ACT Relating to workers' compensation benefits;
AN ACT Relating to workers' compensation benefits;
creating a new section;
1 SSB 5548 receiving payments because of legal custody of any child immediately to notify the department of any change in such legal custody.
1 SB 5548 receiving payments because of legal custody of any child immediately to notify the department of any change in such legal custody.
(b)(i) For claims with a date of injury or disease manifestation on or after July 1, 2026, the payment or payments to be made to the person or persons having the legal custody of a worker's child shall be two percent of the worker's wages.
(b)(i) The payment or payments to be made to the person or persons having the legal custody of a worker's child shall be two percent of the worker's wages, excluding the employer's payment or contribution for health care benefits.
(ii) For claims with a date of injury or disease manifestation on or after July 1, 2026, the payment to be made to the worker or surviving spouse under this chapter shall be reduced by the amount of the payment or payments to be made to person or persons having the legal custody of a worker's child or children under (b)(i) of this subsection (2).
(ii) The payment to be made to the worker or surviving spouse under this chapter shall be reduced by the amount of the payment or payments to be made to person or persons having the legal custody of a worker's child or children under (b)(i) of this subsection (2).
(1) ((When)) For claims with a date of injury or disease manifestation on or after July 1, 2026, when the supervisor of industrial insurance shall determine that permanent total disability results from the injury, the worker shall receive monthly during the period of such disability, except as provided in RCW 51.32.010:
(1) ((When)) For claims filed on or after July 1, 2026, when the supervisor of industrial insurance shall determine that permanent total disability results from the injury, the worker shall receive monthly during the period of such disability, except as provided in RCW 51.32.010:
Worker's status Percentage of the worker's wages Unmarried with no children 60 percent Unmarried with one child or married with no chil65 percent Unmarried with two children or married with one 67 percent Unmarried with three children or married with tw69 percent Unmarried with four children or married with thr71 percentn Unmarried with five children or married with fou73 percent Unmarried with six or more children or married w75 percentr more children p.
Worker's status Percentage of the worker's wages Unmarried with no children 60 percent Unmarried with one child or married with no chil65 percent Unmarried with two children or married with one 67 percent Unmarried with three children or married with tw69 percent Unmarried with four children or married with thr71 percentn Unmarried with five children or married with fou73 percent Unmarried with six children or married with five75 percent (2) For claims filed before July 1, 2026, when the supervisor of industrial insurance shall determine that permanent total disability p.
2 SSB 5548 (2) For claims with a date of injury or disease manifestation on or before June 30, 2026, when the supervisor of industrial insurance shall determine that permanent total disability results from the injury, the worker shall receive monthly during the period of such disability:
2 SB 5548 results from the injury, the worker shall receive monthly during the period of such disability:
(((3))) (4) In case of permanent total disability, if the character of the injury is such as to render the worker so physically helpless as to require the hiring of the services of an attendant, the department shall make monthly payments to such attendant for such services as long as such requirement continues, but such payments shall not obtain or be operative while the worker is receiving care p.
(((3))) (4) In case of permanent total disability, if the character of the injury is such as to render the worker so physically helpless as to require the hiring of the services of an attendant, the department shall make monthly payments to such attendant for such services as long as such requirement continues, but such payments shall not obtain or be operative while the worker is receiving care under or pursuant to the provisions of chapter 51.36 RCW and RCW 51.04.105.
3 SSB 5548 under or pursuant to the provisions of chapter 51.36 RCW and RCW 51.04.105.
p.
(((4))) (5) Should any further accident result in the permanent total disability of an injured worker, ((he or she)) the injured worker shall receive the pension to which ((he or she)) the injured worker would be entitled, notwithstanding the payment of a lump sum for ((his or her)) the injured worker's prior injury.
3 SB 5548 (((4))) (5) Should any further accident result in the permanent total disability of an injured worker, ((he or she)) the injured worker shall receive the pension to which ((he or she)) the injured worker would be entitled, notwithstanding the payment of a lump sum for ((his or her)) the injured worker's prior injury.
AFTER PERCENTAGE June 30, 1993 105% June 30, 1994 110% June 30, 1995 115% June 30, 1996 120% (b) For dates of injury or disease manifestation after July 1, 2008, be less than fifteen percent of the average monthly wage in the state as computed under RCW 51.08.018 plus an additional ten dollars per month if a worker is married and an additional ten dollars per month for each child of the worker up to a maximum of five children for claims with a date of injury or disease manifestation on or before June 30, 2026, and up to a maximum of six children for an unmarried worker or five children for a married worker for claims with a date of injury or disease manifestation on or after July 1, 2026.
AFTER PERCENTAGE June 30, 1993 105% June 30, 1994 110% June 30, 1995 115% June 30, 1996 120% (b) For dates of injury or disease manifestation after July 1, 2008, be less than fifteen percent of the average monthly wage in the state as computed under RCW 51.08.018 plus an additional ten dollars per month if a worker is married and an additional ten dollars per month for each child of the worker up to a maximum of five children for claims filed before July 1, 2026, and six children for claims filed on or after July 1, 2026.
(((6))) (7) In the case of new or reopened claims, if the supervisor of industrial insurance determines that, at the time of filing or reopening, the worker is voluntarily retired and is no p.
(((6))) (7) In the case of new or reopened claims, if the supervisor of industrial insurance determines that, at the time of filing or reopening, the worker is voluntarily retired and is no longer attached to the workforce, benefits shall not be paid under this section.
4 SSB 5548 longer attached to the workforce, benefits shall not be paid under this section.
NEW SECTION.
p.
4 SB 5548 NEW SECTION.
This act applies to claims with a date of injury or disease manifestation on or after July 1, 2026.
NEW SECTION.
Sec.
4.
5 SSB 5548
5 SB 5548
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Action History

  1. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

  2. Senate Rules "X" file.

  3. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

  4. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

  5. Minority; without recommendation.

  6. Minority; do not pass.

  7. WM - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

  8. Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.

  9. Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.

  10. Referred to Ways & Means.

  11. And refer to Ways & Means.

  12. Minority; do not pass.

  13. LC - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

  14. Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 8:00 AM.

  15. Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 8:00 AM.

  16. First reading, referred to Labor & Commerce.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 150 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (150)

150 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

labor
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 5548?
SB 5548 is sponsored by Sharon Shewmake (Democrat).
What is the current status of SB 5548?
This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced January 28, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track SB 5548?
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