To join on your computer or mobile app (Zoom):
https://lni-wa-gov.zoom.us/j/4283482697
Meeting ID: 428 348 2697

To join by phone (audio only):
1-253-215-8782
Meeting ID: 428 348 2697

The hearing will start at 10:00 a.m. and continue until all oral comments are received.

L&I encourages the submittal of written comments, due by 5:00 p.m. on October 28, 2022.

Public hearings held virtually have proven effective in allowing greater public access, eliminating the burden of physical travel, and maintaining public safety. Accordingly, this public hearing will not be held in person.

The purpose of this rulemaking is to establish premium rates and experience rating parameters for calendar year 2023. L&I adopted a 4.8% overall average premium rate increase to workers’ compensation insurance premium rates beginning January 1, 2023, and adjusting each industry risk classification rate to align with expected losses. Washington law provides that rates should be adjusted annually to reflect the hazards of each industry and in accordance with recognized workers’ compensation insurance principles and to ensure solvency of the accident, medical aid, and supplemental pension funds. Washington employers continue to deal with uncertainties associated with the pandemic and the global economy. In light of that, L&I is adopting an overall average rate increase of 4.8% to ensure adequate premiums to cover expected costs of 2023 claims. This increase is below the indicated break-even rate and consistent with our rate-making principle of keeping rates steady and predictable. This rate increase is required to partially account for two consecutive years of higher-than-normal increases in the state’s average wage. L&I is able to minimize the increase for this upcoming year due to the ongoing efforts to gradually increase the workers’ compensation contingency reserve (surplus).