ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2471
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2026 Regular Session
By House Labor & Workplace Standards (originally sponsored by Representatives Scott, Berry, Pollet, Parshley, Doglio, and Macri)
READ FIRST TIME 02/03/26.
AN ACT Relating to collective bargaining for employees not covered by the national labor relations act; amending RCW 49.32.020 and 5.60.060 ; and adding a new chapter to Title 49 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. Access to the collective and individual protections afforded by established federal labor laws, as well as ensuring stable, effective, and efficient labor-management relations, is a vital state interest that has critical benefits to the state's economic and social development. Should there be an absence of applicable law setting forth the rights and obligations of parties engaged in private sector labor-management relations, as well as procedures for the enforcement of the same, the resulting loss of the benefits of collective bargaining to the economy and social fabric of the state would be immensely harmful.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. Following the effective date of this act, should federal law cease to preempt the regulation of private sector labor-management relations in the state, as a whole or any portion thereof, with regard to any employer, employees, trade, or industry which had been subject to federal labor law regulation, this chapter applies in full force and effect to such employer, employees, and trade or industry entities. Additionally, following the effective date of this act, should the national labor relations board determine that any employer or employees, as defined in section 3 of this act, or trade or industry falls outside the previously existing jurisdiction of the national labor relations act, or should the board decline to exercise jurisdiction, or be deprived of its previous jurisdiction over the same, this chapter applies in full force and effect to such employer, employees, trade, or industry.