The bill amends Washington State's unemployment insurance laws to clarify and expand eligibility for benefits for workers affected by strikes or lockouts. It modifies RCW 50.20.090 to disqualify individuals from receiving benefits if their unemployment is due to a strike at their last place of employment, with exceptions for those not participating in the strike or not belonging to a class of workers involved. Disqualifications will end two weeks after the strike begins, provided it is not illegal, or when the strike concludes. Additionally, the bill introduces a notification requirement for employers regarding mediation services when benefits are issued due to a strike.

Further amendments address the experience rating accounts of employers, ensuring that benefits paid to individuals due to strikes are charged to the separating employer's account, while certain benefits will not affect employers' experience ratings. The bill also establishes deadlines for voluntary contributions from employers and mandates overpayment assessments for individuals who receive retroactive wages after unemployment benefits. It requires annual reporting on the impact of strikes on the unemployment insurance trust fund and creates a private sector labor dispute resolution account. The bill includes provisions for expiration and implementation dates, with certain sections set to expire on December 31, 2035, and new sections taking effect on January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 50.20.090, 50.20.160, 50.29.021
Substitute Bill: 50.20.090, 50.20.160, 50.29.021
Engrossed Substitute: 50.20.090, 50.20.160, 50.29.021
Bill as Passed Legislature: 50.20.090, 50.20.160, 50.29.021, 50.29.026, 49.08.060
Session Law: 50.20.090, 50.20.160, 50.29.021, 50.29.026, 49.08.060