Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington HB2188: Industrial insurance rates
Status: In committee, February 19, 2026
Promoting transparency in certain industrial insurance rate increases.
What the bill says
An act Relating to promoting transparency in certain industrial insurance rate increases; amending RCW 51.16.035; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT Relating to promoting transparency in certain industrial insurance rate increases; amending RCW 51.16.035; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds (b) This axiom is strained during the premium rate-setting process for the state's workers' compensation program. It has become common practice to artificially limit the premium rate change for certain risk classes below what it should be based on actuarial principles. Meanwhile, the rate classes limited, their actual premium, and how the limited rate is subsidized across other risk classes is not presented in a clear and concise manner; (c) This practice leads to increased use of contingency reserves to further limit proposed rates. The department of labor and industries has utilized contingency reserves to cap the proposed premium rate for three consecutive years. In the latest rate setting this is an 8.1 percent reduction from the "break-even" rate, leading to a $240,000,000 reduction in contingency reserves. Use of reserves to limit the annual rate increase, while laudable in the short term, is not a sustainable option; (d) This practice clouds the workers' compensation program's true costs, leaves the people uninformed, and makes the legislature slow to the draw on potential reforms. (2) Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to promote open and transparent governance, and to ensure the continued …
Sponsors
- Suzanne Schmidt (R) · primary sponsor
- Jeremie Dufault (R)
- Peter Abbarno (R)
- Joel McEntire (R)
- Cyndy Jacobsen (R)
- Alex Ybarra (R)
- Stephanie Barnard (R)
- Virginia Graham (R)
- Travis Couture (R)
Latest actions
- : House Rules "X" file.
- : Returned to Rules Committee for second reading.
- : Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
- : Referred to Rules 2 Review.
- : LAWS - Majority; do pass.
- : Executive action taken in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards at 10:30 AM.
- : Public hearing in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards at 8:00 AM.
- : First reading, referred to Labor & Workplace Standards.
- : Prefiled for introduction.
Votes
- House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards: Do pass (February 3, 2026): 8 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: WORKERS' COMPENSATION
Common questions
- What is HB2188?
- HB2188 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): Industrial insurance rates.
- What does HB2188 do?
- In its own words: An act Relating to promoting transparency in certain industrial insurance rate increases; amending RCW 51.16.035; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION.
- What is the status of HB2188?
- In committee as of February 19, 2026. Latest action: House Rules "X" file. (February 19, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB2188?
- Suzanne Schmidt (R), with 8 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB2188?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2188&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.