Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington SB5944: Language access providers
Status: Signed into law, March 18, 2026
Concerning language access providers' collective bargaining.
What the bill says
An act Relating to language access providers' collective bargaining; and amending RCW 41.56.157.
From the enrolled text:
AN ACT Relating to language access providers' collective bargaining; and amending RCW 41.56.157. Sec. 1. RCW 41.56.157 and 2020 c 289 s 2 are each amended to read as follows: (1) In addition to the entities listed in RCW 41.56.101, this chapter applies to the governor with respect to language access providers. Solely for the purposes of collective bargaining and as expressly limited under subsections (2) and (3) of this section, the governor is the public employer of language access providers who, solely for the purposes of collective bargaining, are public employees. The governor or the governor's designee shall represent the public employer for bargaining purposes. (2) There shall be collective bargaining, as defined in RCW 41.56.030, between the governor and language access providers, except as follows: (a) The only units appropriate for purposes of collective bargaining under RCW 41.56.211 (ii) A statewide unit for language access providers who provide spoken language interpreter services for injured workers or crime victims receiving benefits from the department of labor and industries; and (iii) A statewide unit for language access providers who provide spoken language interpreter services for any state agency through the department of enterprise services, excluding language access providers included in (a)(i) and (ii) of this subsection; (b) The exclusive bargaining representative of language access providers in the unit specified in …
Sponsors
- Adrian Cortes (D) · primary sponsor
- Emily Alvarado (D, 34)
- Steven Conway (D)
- Robert Hasegawa (D)
- T'wina Nobles (D)
- Rebecca Saldaña (D)
- Javier Valdez (D)
- Wilson, Claire (D, 30)
Latest actions
- : Effective date 6/11/2026.
- : Chapter 109, 2026 Laws.
- : Governor signed.
- : Delivered to Governor.
- : Speaker signed.
- : President signed.
- : Third reading, passed; yeas, 86; nays, 10; absent, 0; excused, 2.
- : Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
- : Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
- : Referred to Rules 2 Review.
Votes
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (March 4, 2026): 86 yea, 10 nay, passed
- House Committee on Appropriations: Do pass (February 27, 2026): 18 yea, 12 nay, passed
- House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards: Do pass (February 20, 2026): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (February 11, 2026): 44 yea, 5 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce: Do pass (January 23, 2026): 7 yea, 1 nay, passed
Subjects: PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT AND EMPLOYEES
Common questions
- What is SB5944?
- SB5944 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): Language access providers.
- What does SB5944 do?
- In its own words: An act Relating to language access providers' collective bargaining; and amending RCW 41.56.157.
- What is the status of SB5944?
- Signed into law as of March 18, 2026. Latest action: Effective date 6/11/2026. (March 18, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB5944?
- Adrian Cortes (D), with 7 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB5944?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5944&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.