Rules filed August 5, 2025



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The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) updated its rulemaking website

Rules filed August 5, 2025

For information on all L&I meetings and public hearings related to rulemaking, please visit our public participation calendar [ [link removed] ]. [ [link removed] ]



Division: Division of Occupational Safety & Health (DOSH)

Topic: Adoption (CR-103) – Cranes, Rigging, and Personnel Lifting

Brief Description: One purpose of this rulemaking is to amend the safety standards for cranes and derricks in construction under Chapter 296-155 WAC, Part L. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) updated their standards in 2015 and 2018, which included clarifying each employer's duty to ensure the competency of crane operators through training, certification or licensing, and evaluation. In addition, this rulemaking implements some of the changes resulting from Washington state legislation passed in 2024. Second Substitute House Bill 2022 [ [link removed] ] (2SHB 2022) (Chapter 311, Laws of 2024), codified under RCW 49.17.400 through 49.17.445, created new requirements for tower cranes. The changes in the law are in response to an incident in 2019 in which members of the public and workers died following the collapse of a tower crane in Seattle, Washington. The incident was preventable, and 2SHB 2022 aims to address causes of that incident.

This rulemaking also intends to provide clarity on L&I’s interpretation of requirements related to crane decertification and reinstatement. The changes clarify what activities are covered, and specifies that damage to critical parts of the crane will require notification to L&I. The adopted rule adds a requirement for crane tip overs to be reported to L&I, and specifies that the crane can only go back into operation once it has been inspected by a certified crane inspector.

Finally, L&I-initiated amendments were adopted to address other areas in chapter 296-155 WAC, Part L, relating to cranes that either need to be updated based on current industry practice, or to clarify some of the language to maintain safety and health protections for workers.

*Effective date: September 5, 2025*

Additional information about this rulemaking:
CR-103 Adoption [ [link removed] ]
Adoption Language [ [link removed] ]
Concise Explanatory Statement (CES) [ [link removed] ]
Final Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) [ [link removed] ]



Division: Field Services and Public Safety (Elevator Program)

Topic: Proposal Continuance (CR-102) – Elevator Fees Increase (FY26)

Brief Description: The purpose of this continuance is to extend the public comment period and hold a second public hearing for changes under Chapter 296-96 WAC, Safety regulations and fees for all elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators and other conveyances. L&I filed a CR-102 Proposal on June 3, 2025 (WSR 25-12-088 [ [link removed] ]). A hybrid public hearing was held on July 8, 2025, with written comments accepted through July 8, 2025. During the process, some stakeholders did not receive notice of the CR-102 filing. The continuance extends the opportunity for public comment.

The purpose of this rulemaking is to propose a 6.41% fee increase for inspections of conveyances and other Elevator Program services. This is the Office of Financial Management’s maximum allowable fiscal growth factor rate for fiscal year 2026. The fee increases are necessary to support the operating expenses of the Elevator Program, as current fee levels are not adequate to cover current Program expenses. Additional amendments are also proposed to reorganize the existing fees for permits and inspections into a combined fee schedule to make the fees easier to locate.

Public hearing date: September 11, 2025 (Tumwater/virtual/phone) [ [link removed] ]
Written comments due by: September 11, 2025, 5:00 p.m.
Intended adoption date: September 30, 2025

Additional information about this rulemaking:
CR-102 Proposal Continuance [ [link removed] ]
Proposal Continuance Language [ [link removed] ]



Division: Field Services and Public Safety (Electrical Program)

Topic: Preproposal (CR-101) – Electrical Rule: Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (SSB 5528 Implementation) & Competency Examinations

Brief Description: The purpose of this rulemaking is to consider amending Chapter 296-46B WAC, Electrical Safety Standards, Administration, and Installation. The changes under consideration would affect requirements for installing electric vehicle supply equipment, and electrician and administrator competency examinations. The amendments are needed to implement Substitute Senate Bill 5528 [ [link removed] ] (SSB 5528) concerning the installation of transportation electrification infrastructure. The legislation enacted additional certification requirements for electricians installing electric vehicle supply equipment on public works projects that take effect January 1, 2026. The requirements of the bill do not apply to certain apprentices when the supervising journey level electrician is certified by a training program and for installation projects under contract as of January 1, 2026.

The amendments are also needed to streamline requirements for electrician and administrator competency examinations. The changes under consideration include requiring individuals to use department issued unique candidate identification numbers when arranging for administrator competency examinations and increasing the amount of time allowed for testing without having to start a new examination period and retake all sections. The amendments also include updates, clarification, housekeeping, and other changes.

Additional information about this rulemaking:
CR-101 Preproposal [ [link removed] ]



Division: Fraud Prevention and Labor Standards (Employment Standards)

Topic: Preproposal (CR-101) – Equal Pay & Opportunities Protections and Guidelines (SSB 5408 & SSB 5501 Implementation)

Brief Description: The purpose of this rulemaking is to consider amending Chapter 296-123 WAC, Equal pay and opportunities, to implement Substitute Senate Bill 5408 [ [link removed] ] (SSB 5408) and Substitute Senate Bill 5501 [ [link removed] ] (SSB 5501) which include the following labor standards under the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (Chapter 49.58 RCW [ [link removed] ]):


* Updates to the existing wage and salary disclosure requirements.
* 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.

SSB 5408 and SSB 5501 took effect on July 27, 2025. While rulemaking is ongoing, employers are subject to enforcement for violations of the provisions of SSB 5408 and SSB 5501.

Additional information about this rulemaking:
CR-101 Preproposal [ [link removed] ]



Division: Insurance Services (Legal Services)

Topic: Preproposal (CR-101) – Pension Discount Rate (PDR) 2026

Brief Description: The purpose of this rulemaking is to amend WAC 296-14-8810 Pension tables, pension discount rate and mortality tables, by lowering the pension discount rate (PDR) to better align with the rate of return for long term treasuries for self-insured pensions. These reductions allow our financial statements to more accurately reflect our liabilities and overall financial position and are consistent with recommendations from our annual independent actuarial review of our rate making.

Additional information about this rulemaking:
CR-101 Preproposal [ [link removed] ]








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Washington State Department of Labor & Industries · 7273 Linderson Way SW · Tumwater WA 98501
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