New Laws in 2025

Inslee imposes government spending freeze amid projected revenue shortfall
State minimum wage increase to $16.66 per hour ¹ ³.
Expanded paid sick leave for employees with school-aged kids ¹.
New license plate law: having a cover over your license plate will result in a fine ².
Law aimed at enhancing safety for vulnerable road users ⁴.
Legislators have begun pre-filing bills for the 2025 session ⁵
Rideshare drivers’ minimum pay-In 2025, drivers for companies like Uber and Lyft will earn a guaranteed wage based on time and mileage. For trips within the city limits of Seattle, drivers will earn at least 68 cents for each minute a driver is carrying passengers and $1.59 for each mile during the trip. If that number is below $5.95, the driver will earn a guaranteed minimum of $5.95 per trip. For trips outside of Seattle, drivers will earn 39 cents per minute of a trip and $1.34 for every mile driven during that time. The minimum trip amount earned will be $3.45. Food delivery drivers are not covered by the law—only drivers transporting passengers. Seattle also will provide several deactivation-related protections for “app-based workers.”
Health care facilities cannot mandate overtime for some health care workers. A new law clearly defines who is an “employee.” Hospital employees “involved in direct patient care” cannot be required to work overtime. To be eligible, the employees must be employees of the hospital and either receive an hourly wage or be covered by a collective bargaining agreement. Employees involved in patient care include nurses, surgeons, social workers, physician assistants, and more. Contracted or travel staff will not be included under the new law.The law includes exceptions for emergency situations, if an employee is pre-scheduled to be on-call, if the mandatory overtime is required to complete a patient care procedure already in progress, and if the hospital makes “reasonable efforts to obtain staffing” but is unable to avoid overtime.Hospitals are required to document the “reasonable efforts” and will be subject to penalties if they are found to not comply.Although the law went into effect Wednesday, the law will not expand the definition of a “covered employee” for facilities with fewer than 25 beds until July 1, 2025.
Seattle parking fines ~ Seattle parking violations have increased for the first time in 14 years. Fines have raised from a range of $29-$53 up to $43-78. The Seattle Municipal Court said the new penalties bring the fines in alignment with the current parking rates and account for inflation.
Southern Resident orca distance ~ Washington boaters must now stay at least 1,000 yeards away from Southern Resident killer whales at all times.The new rules were passed into law in 2023 and went into effect Wednesday. The regulations amend a previous bill, bumping the distance from 300 yards to 1,000.If a Southern Resident orca approaches a vessel within 400 yards, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) said the new law requires boaters to first stop anything that is propelling the vessel—including cutting transmission, lowering sails, or stopping paddling.Boaters must also attempt to navigate out of the path or away from the whales at a speed of seven knots or fewer.
Free college tuition ~ This new law that provides college tuition for some students does not launch at the beginning of the year. Starting with the 2025-2026 academic year, 10th-12th grade students who receive Basic Food or Food Assistance Program benefits will automatically qualify to receive financial aid from the Washington College Grant (WCG). Students covered under this law will have their income eligibility certified by the Washington Student Achievement Council. According to WCG’s website, the grant “gives eligible people more money for more types of education like certificate programs, job training, apprenticeships, or college.”