New 2025 WA laws include minimum wage increase, expanded paid sick leave

||| FROM FOX 13 NEWS |||

WASHINGTON – Several new laws in Washington state will go into effect in 2025, impacting general workers and health care.

Key changes include stronger protection for health care workers, such as a ban on mandatory overtime in certain settings, expanded rights for app-based workers and a new paid sick leave law. Fines for covered license plates will take effect in 2025, alongside increased penalties for negligent drivers and a rise in the state’s minimum wage.

Keep reading to learn more about the new laws going into effect in Washington in January 2025, and how they may impact you. 

Washington’s new negligent driving law

Beginning Jan. 1, Washington state will increase penalties and fines for drivers who cause serious injuries or fatalities to pedestrians due to negligent driving.

The Washington Traffic Safety Commission reports a significant rise in traffic fatalities involving vulnerable road users. The WTSC defines a vulnerable road user as anyone traveling on Washington’s roads or sidewalks who is not protected by the steel frame of a vehicle.

WA’s new Paid Sick Leave law takes effect in 2025 

Washington’s new Paid Sick Leave law (SB 5793) takes effect on Jan. 1, and means that workers, including drivers for transportation companies, will have access to paid sick leave and will be protected from discrimination or retaliation when exercising their rights.

Transportation network drivers (Uber, Lyft)

New paid sick leave rules will apply to drivers of companies like Uber or Lyft. They must accrue one hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked, with the same eligibility requirements. 

The compensation for sick leave will be based on average hourly earnings. Drivers can also carry over up to 40 hours of unused sick leave, and must have an accessible system to request it. Drivers will also be protected from retaliation for using sick leave.

WA’s new law for app-based workers goes into effect in 2025

Seattle Council Bill No. 120580 goes into effect on Jan. 1, and aims to ensure fairness and transparency in how app-based workers in Seattle are treated by companies, especially regarding deactivation that can impact their livelihoods.

Workers can challenge their deactivation within 90 days of receiving the NOD. Companies must respond to the challenge within 14 days and provide a written statement about their decision. If the challenge is unresolved, the worker can file a complaint with the Office of Labor Standards or pursue legal action.

A new WA license plate law is coming in 2025

Starting January 1, having a cover over your license plate will result in a fine. 

Since June 2024, the law has stated violators will only be given a written warning, with information about the law and further penalties that will begin in 2025.

Health care workers to adopt new smoke evacuation systems law in 2025

Some lifesaving surgical procedures require lasers, radio frequency devices and power tools, which can create smoke harmful to surgical staff. Substitute House Bill 1779, effective Jan. 1, requires health care employers in Washington to adopt policies requiring the use of smoke evacuation systems during these procedures.

The systems must capture and neutralize smoke before it contacts the eyes or respiratory tract of anyone in the operating room. The law applies to hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers and allows flexibility in choosing the type of system.

Starting Jan. 1, hospitals in Washington will be prohibited from mandating overtime for certain health care workers under a new law. 

This policy, issued by L&I in June, restricts mandatory overtime for hospital employees directly involved in patient care, including nurses, surgical technicians and other clinical staff. The law applies to workers who are paid hourly or covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

While most hospitals must comply by January, smaller hospitals and critical access facilities have until July 1. Contract and travel staff are not covered under the new rules.

WA’s minimum wage to increase in 2025

Beginning Jan. 1, the minimum wage in Washington state will go up to $16.66 per hour, up 2.35% from 2024.

WA’s new college tuition guarantee for low-income students in 2026

Washington state’s new law, House Bill 2214, will guarantee free college tuition to low-income students starting in the 2025-26 academic year. The law automatically qualifies students in grades 10 through 12 who receive Basic Food or Food Assistance Program benefits for the Washington College Grant (WCG), the state’s largest financial aid program. 

The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) will certify eligibility and notify students to submit FAFSA or WASFA applications, which could qualify them for additional aid. The WCG provides grants based on income, covering tuition at state-approved colleges and apprenticeship programs.

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