The Brief
- New Washington state laws effective January 1, 2026, impact workplace rights, taxes, and consumer fees.
- Key changes include expanded employee protections, luxury vehicle taxes, and increased plastic bag fees.
- Minimum wage will rise to $17.13, and various business regulations will be updated.
OLYMPIA, Wash. – Several new laws in Washington state will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026, impacting workers, consumers and businesses.
Following the 2025 legislative session in Olympia, these laws include a range of topics, including an increase on the price of plastic grocery bags to cannabis licenses to employee/employer rights across the state line.
Keep reading to learn more about the new laws going into effect in Washington on Jan. 1, and how they may impact you.
WA’s new workplace and employee rights laws
Expanded protections under Paid Family and Medical Leave (HB 1213)
Starting in 2026, workers will receive job protection after 180 days on the job, instead of the current requirement of 12 months and 1,250 hours worked. The law also lowers the employer size threshold for those protections. In 2025, the current threshold is at 50 employees. In 2026, that number will go to 25 workers, 15 workers in 2027 and eight in 2028.…