Rules filed September 30, 2025



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

Rules filed September 30, 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: Expedited Proposal (CR-105) – Cranes, Rigging, and Personnel Lifting – Technical Correction (Qualified Evaluator)

Brief Description: The purpose of this expedited rulemaking is to make a technical correction to the definition of qualified evaluator (employer) under WAC 296-155-52902. A comprehensive update to Chapter 296-155 WAC, Part L, which regulates the use of cranes in construction, was adopted in August 2025 under WSR 25-16-089 [ [link removed] ]. An oversight in the definition of qualified evaluator (employer) was identified after the amended rule was adopted. The definition needs to be updated to ensure alignment and parity with the definition of qualified evaluator (third party). This also aligns with the substantive requirements established in WAC 296-155-53301, 296-155-53303, and 296-155-53416, which set the qualification requirements for lift directors, A/D directors, and certain equipment operators, which specifically include use of an employer’s qualified evaluator to accurately assess whether individuals meet the qualification requirements in Chapter 296-155 WAC, Part L.

L&I determined that expedited rulemaking is appropriate because the proposed language clarifies the rule without changing the intent of the recently adopted rule updates filed in WSR 25-16-089.

*Written objections due: December 1, 2025, by 5 p.m.*

Additional information about this rulemaking:
CR-105 Expedited Proposal [ [link removed] ]
Proposal Language [ [link removed] ]



Division: Division of Occupational Safety & Health (DOSH)

Topic: Expedited Proposal (CR-105) – Safety and Health Retaliation

Brief Description: The purpose of this expedited rulemaking is to propose amendments to Chapter 296-360 WAC and other sections in Title 296 WAC that reference safety and health discrimination protections for workers and replace the term “discrimination” with “retaliation”. This is part of a plan that L&I developed to use more accurate terminology to describe complaints received from workers who raise workplace safety and health hazards or concerns and are subsequently retaliated against as described in RCW 49.17.160. This update does not change the underlying protections that currently exist today.

The proposed amendments:


* Remove “discrimination”, “discriminate”, and related terminology and replace them with “retaliation”, “retaliate” and related terminology.
* Update program name and contact information.
* Update grammar and other housekeeping changes in order to comply with the Office of the Code Reviser.

L&I determined that expedited rulemaking is appropriate because the proposed language is limited to interpretive and housekeeping changes with no material change to requirements.

*Written objections due: December 1, 2025, by 5 p.m.*

Additional information about this rulemaking:
CR-105 Expedited Proposal [ [link removed] ]
Proposal Language [ [link removed] ]



Division: Field Services and Public Safety (Elevator Program)

Topic: Adoption (CR-103) – Elevator Fees Increase (FY26)

Brief Description: The purpose of this rulemaking is to adopt a 6.41% fee increase for inspections of conveyances and other Elevator Program services under Chapter 296-96 WAC, Safety regulations and fees for all elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators and other conveyances. This is the Office of Financial Management’s maximum allowable fiscal growth factor rate for fiscal year 2026. The fee increases are necessary to cover increased operating expenses for the Elevator Program. The current fee levels are insufficient to cover current Program expenses. Additional amendments are also adopted to reorganize the existing fees for permits and inspections into a combined fee schedule.

*Effective date: November 1, 2025*

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



Division: Fraud Prevention and Labor Standards (Employment Standards)

Topic: Proposal (CR-102) – Labor Standards Statute Alignment (ESHB 1875, SSB 5101, and ESHB 1332 Implementation)

Brief Description: The purpose of this proposal is to amend Chapters 296-128 and 296-135 WAC to align with recently passed legislation:


* Substitute Senate Bill 5101 [ [link removed] ] (Chapter 375, Laws of 2025) adds “hate crimes” to the acceptable uses of leave under the Domestic Violence Leave Act, in addition to domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
* Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1875 [ [link removed] ] (Chapter 170, Laws of 2025) expands allowable use of paid sick leave to include immigration proceedings for both employees and drivers of Transportation Network Companies (TNCs).
* Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1332 [ [link removed] ] (Chapter 229, Laws of 2025) requires electronic receipts and weekly notices contain information on financial incentives, promotions, or bonuses paid to a Transportation Network driver. The TNC must make records of per trip receipts from the previous 24 months available in a single aggregated, searchable, downloadable format, such as a CSV file or searchable PDF file, within three business days of a driver’s request.

Public hearing date: November 5, 2025 (virtual/telephonic) [ [link removed] ]
Written comments due by: November 7, 2025, 5:00 p.m.
Intended adoption date: December 2, 2025

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








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