OLYMPIA—A bill strengthening Washington’s response to wage theft and enforcement passed unanimously out of the state Senate today. HB 2479, championed by Rep. Mary Fosse, D-Everett, will ensure more effective accountability and allow workers to recover unpaid wages faster and more fairly while their claims are being processed.
“When an employer steals a worker’s hard-earned wages, it hits our most vulnerable workers the hardest—those that live paycheck to paycheck. And no worker should have to choose between paying rent or putting food on the table while they’re waiting for justice. Stolen wages are a real problem in Washington,” said Fosse, who serves as vice chair of the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee. “My bill is rooted in a simple principle: you work, you get paid. This is about fairness and accountability.”
For workers waiting months — sometimes longer — to recover what they’ve already earned, that change can mean the difference between keeping up with rent, utilities, and groceries or falling behind.
“Right now, recovering unpaid wages is a long and stressful process. This bill helps with that. It gives vulnerable workers quicker access to the pay they’ve already worked for and strengthens our enforcement system, so bad actors don’t benefit from delay. We deserve a Washington where workers are valued, work is respected, and wages are always paid,” Fosse added.
HB 2479 now heads to the governor’s desk. If signed into law, it will create a dedicated wage recovery account, improve how wage claims are prioritized and resolved, and reinforce protections for workers across the state.