Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington SB6136: Industrial insurance rates
Status: Signed into law, March 23, 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 enrolled 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
- Curtis King (R) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Effective date 6/11/2026.
- : Chapter 162, 2026 Laws.
- : Governor signed.
- : Delivered to Governor.
- : Speaker signed.
- : President signed.
- : Third reading, passed; yeas, 94; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 4.
- : 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): 94 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards: Do pass (February 24, 2026): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (February 10, 2026): 48 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce: Do pass (January 30, 2026): 8 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: WORKERS' COMPENSATION
Common questions
- What is SB6136?
- SB6136 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): Industrial insurance rates.
- What does SB6136 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 SB6136?
- Signed into law as of March 23, 2026. Latest action: Effective date 6/11/2026. (March 23, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB6136?
- Curtis King (R).
- Where is the official record for SB6136?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=6136&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.