Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington SB5905: Port workers PERS membership
Status: Passed one chamber, March 12, 2026
Concerning membership in the public employees' retirement system for port workers who participate in a federal railroad retirement plan, a union-sponsored defined benefit retirement plan, or another employer-funded private pension plan.
What the bill says
An act Relating to membership in the public employees' retirement system for port workers who participate in a federal railroad retirement plan, a union-sponsored defined benefit retirement plan, or another employer-funded private pension plan; amending RCW 41.40.023; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT Relating to membership in the public employees' retirement system for port workers who participate in a federal railroad retirement plan, a union-sponsored defined benefit retirement plan, or another employer-funded private pension plan; amending RCW 41.40.023; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the department of retirement systems and a port district employer made a mutual mistake regarding the retirement system coverage of certain port employees who are railroad workers participating in the federal railroad retirement system. When the port district joined the public employees' retirement system in September 2023, these employees were inadvertently included in the definition of eligible employee for purposes of membership in the public employees' retirement system membership prior to the enactment of an explicit statutory exemption. The legislature further finds that it has never been the legislature's intent for an employee to be covered by more than one public retirement plan for the same period of service, or for an employer to be required to make retirement contributions to more than one plan for the same employee and period of service. The legislature intends to correct this mistake by clarifying that employees who participate in any federal retirement system are not eligible for, and are not required to participate in, the public employees' retirement system for the same …
Sponsors
- Shelly Short (R) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading.
- : First reading, referred to Appropriations.
- : Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.
- : Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
- : 1st substitute bill substituted
- : Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
- : Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- : WM - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
- : Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 4:00 PM.
- : Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 4:00 PM.
Votes
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (February 12, 2026): 49 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Ways & Means: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5905 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass (February 3, 2026): 23 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT AND EMPLOYEES
Common questions
- What is SB5905?
- SB5905 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): Port workers PERS membership.
- What does SB5905 do?
- In its own words: An act Relating to membership in the public employees' retirement system for port workers who participate in a federal railroad retirement plan, a union-sponsored defined benefit retirement plan, or another employer-funded private pension plan; amending RCW 41.40.023; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION.
- What is the status of SB5905?
- Passed one chamber as of March 12, 2026. Latest action: By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading. (March 12, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB5905?
- Shelly Short (R).
- Where is the official record for SB5905?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5905&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.