Evergreen Reporter

Senate Bill 5578 and House Bill 1764, which aimed to raise Washington state's minimum wage to $25 an hour by 2031 and mandate a minimum of three weeks paid vacation plus five days paid bereavement leave, did not progress past their respective labor committees by the policy deadline.

Patrick Connor, state director for NFIB in Washington, expressed relief at the bills' failure to advance. "Small businesses can breathe a sigh of relief that the minimum-wage bills failed to advance," he stated. He warned that despite this setback for the bills' sponsors, efforts to pass similar legislation would likely continue. "It’s a good sign the sponsors and committee chairs responsible for these bills realize now is not the right time to advance them; however, small business owners across the state need to stay vigilant. These bills will be back in some form — whether it’s during a special session this year, or in the 2026 session, we know Labor and their progressive backers in the Legislature will not stop as long as they maintain lopsided majorities in both chambers."

Connor attributed the defeat of these measures to significant engagement from NFIB's small-business members who actively reached out to legislators about potential negative impacts on their operations.

For updates on small-business news in Washington state, visit www.nfib.com or follow NFIB on social media platforms.

NFIB has been advocating for small and independent business owners across America for over 80 years. As a nonprofit and nonpartisan association founded in 1943, NFIB remains committed exclusively to supporting small businesses.