Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington SB5927: Workers' comp. adjustments
Status: In committee, January 27, 2026
Capping the rate of increase for future workers' compensation cost-of-living adjustments.
What the bill says
An act Relating to capping the rate of increase for future workers' compensation cost-of-living adjustments; amending RCW 51.32.072 and 51.32.075; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT Relating to capping the rate of increase for future workers' compensation cost-of-living adjustments; amending RCW 51.32.072 and 51.32.075; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds (b) Between 2012 and 2019, average annual premium rate changes ranged from a 4.9 percent decrease to an increase of 2.7 percent. The "break even" rate regularly indicated that the program could operate below the proposed annual rate. The proposed rate often exceeded what was necessary to cover the cost of claims; (c) Since 2020, premium rates have cumulatively increased by 17.6 percent. With the upcoming 4.9 percent proposed rate change that increase will now be over 22 percent. Meanwhile, the "break even" rate for each of the last five years has exceeded the proposed annual rate. In short, the proposed rate has been lower than necessary to cover the cost of claims; (d) The state's average monthly wage, the metric used as the basis for cost-of-living adjustments for time loss and pensions, remains a volatile metric. In the mid-2010s one could expect an annual change ranging from two percent to four percent. Since 2019, the annual change in average monthly wage has varied greatly, seeing increases of two percent, 5.5 percent, 7.5 percent, and even 10.1 percent; and (e) An available option to address stability is …
Sponsors
- Mark Schoesler (R) · primary sponsor
- Wilson, Jeff (R, 19)
Latest actions
- : Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 10:30 AM.
- : First reading, referred to Labor & Commerce.
- : Prefiled for introduction.
Subjects: WORKERS' COMPENSATION
Common questions
- What is SB5927?
- SB5927 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): Workers' comp. adjustments.
- What does SB5927 do?
- In its own words: An act Relating to capping the rate of increase for future workers' compensation cost-of-living adjustments; amending RCW 51.32.072 and 51.32.075; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION.
- What is the status of SB5927?
- In committee as of January 27, 2026. Latest action: Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 10:30 AM. (January 27, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB5927?
- Mark Schoesler (R), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB5927?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5927&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.