From the use of AI during the hiring processes to paid family medical leave changes, a number of bills affecting HR made it past the cutoff deadline.

HB 2239, sponsored by Rep. Brian Blake (D–Aberdeen), prohibits employers from searching an employee’s vehicle while parked on the employer’s property. Exceptions to this rule include searches of employer-owned or leased vehicles, searches conducted by law enforcement, and searches to prevent an immediate threat. Employers who violate this law could face civil penalties from L&I.

HB 2266, sponsored by Rep. Beth Doglio (D–Olympia), prohibits an employer with 15 or more employees from requiring a doctor’s note regarding the need of reasonable accommodations for a nursing mother. This bill is currently in the House Rules Committee awaiting a vote of the House of Representatives.

HB 2401, sponsored by Rep. Zack Hudgins (D–Tukwila), restricts how employers may use artificial intelligence (AI) during the hiring process. Employers are required to notify applicants of the use of AI for analyzing applicant-submitted videos, obtain the applicant’s consent before the use of AI to analyze submitted videos, and provide a process for requesting the deletion of all copies of an applicant’s videos. Additionally, employers are prohibited from rejecting an application for refusing to consent to the use of AI. This bill is currently in the House Rules Committee awaiting a vote of the House of Representatives.

HB 2748, sponsored by Rep. Alex Ramel (D–Bellingham), establishes a parking cash-out program for employers of 50 or more employees. Employers are required to provide a cash allowance equal to the parking subsidy the employer pays to provide employee parking if an employee opts not to use the employer-provided parking. The rule exempts employers subject to penalties for reducing paid parking from a third-party parking lease. This bill is currently in the House Rules Committee awaiting a vote of the House of Representatives.

SB 6034, sponsored by Sen. Karen Keiser (D–Kent), provides individuals with an additional six months to file complaints with the Human Rights Commission alleging pregnancy discrimination. This increases the current timeline from six months to one year from the time the alleged unfair or discriminatory act took place. This bill is currently in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 6216, sponsored by Sen. Karen Keiser (D–Kent), exempts certain classes of individuals from Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) including members of certain boards, committees, and councils, as well as volunteer firefighters compensated on a per diem or nominal sum basis. Additionally, the bill repeals the PFML waiver that exempted certain collective bargaining agreements from coverage. This bill is currently in the Senate Rules Committee.

Dates to remember

HB 2239 is scheduled for a public hearing in the House Appropriations Committee at 1:30 pm on Monday, February 10.