Event Details
Equal Pay & Opportunities Protections and Guidelines (SSB 5408 & SSB 5501 Implementation)
Public Hearing on Proposed Rules
Thursday, March 12, 2026
11 a.m.
11 a.m.
Location
In-person:
Department of Labor & Industries
12806 Gateway Drive South
Tukwila, WA 98168
The public hearing will begin at 11:00 a.m. and will continue until all oral comments are received.
L&I encourages the submittal of written comments, due by 5:00 p.m. on March 12, 2026.
Rules Affected
View the affected rules, purpose, and rulemaking statusPurpose
The purpose of this rulemaking is to amend Chapter 296-123 WAC to implement Substitute Senate Bill 5408 (SSB 5408) and Substitute Senate Bill 5501 (SSB 5501) passed by the Legislature in 2025. SSB 5408 and SSB 5501 clarified and strengthened employee protections under the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (EPOA, Chapter 49.58 RCW). The laws became effective on July 27, 2025. SSB 5408 updates wage and salary disclosure requirements and SSB 5501 establishes restrictions on when an employer can require a valid driver’s license as a condition of employment or include a statement in a job posting that an applicant must have a valid driver’s license. The adopted rules also revise the existing EPOA rules in Chapter 296-123 WAC by defining what an “applicant” is and by clarifying the enforcement and applicability of the rules.