Bill > HB2695

This bill amends existing Washington state law to exempt certain agricultural activities from mass layoff notice requirements, which typically mandate that employers provide advance notice to employees and government agencies before a significant reduction in workforce. Specifically, the bill adds a definition for "agricultural labor" to clarify what types of work fall under this exemption, encompassing services related to cultivating soil, raising or harvesting crops and livestock, and related processing or packing activities. It then amends the section detailing exceptions to mass layoff notice requirements to include a new provision: employers will not be required to provide notice if the affected employees are engaged in agricultural labor and were hired with the understanding, confirmed in writing, that their employment was limited to a specific agricultural season or harvest period, with the anticipated end date disclosed in advance. This aims to provide flexibility for agricultural businesses that rely on seasonal workforces.

Labor and Employment

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2695&Year=2025&Initiative=false