(360) 709-4600 workforce@wtb.wa.gov

2024 Legislative Session 

The Workforce Board advises the Governor and Legislature on workforce development policy to shape strategies and create and sustain a high-skill, high-wage economy.

Partner Agency Requests

View partner agency requests endorsed by the Workforce Board.

2024 Budget Provisos

New: See the full list of workforce-related budget items, or provisos, that passed the 2024 Legislature. This list is preliminary until the Governor signs the state budget. If you would like this list in a sortable Microsoft Excel file, please contact Michelle Pierce

Updated 3.11.2024

Workforce Board staff were tracking the following bills of broad interest to workforce stakeholders.

These workforce-related bills that have passed the 2024 Legislature.

Bill Title Original Sponsor Status
HB 1146 Dual credit program notice Paul Del to Gov
ESHB 1589 Clean energy Doglio Del to Gov
SHB 1870 Local comm. federal funding Barnard Del to Gov
SHB 1889 Professionals/immigration Walen Del to Gov
SHB 1892 Workforce housing prg. Leavitt Del to Gov
HB 1898 Unempl. benefit charging Schmidt Del to Gov
HB 1901 Unempl. voluntary program Springer Del to Gov
SHB 1905 Equal pay/protected classes Mena Del to Gov
HB 1917 Physician assistant compact Leavitt Del to Gov
SHB 1924 Fusion technology policies Shavers Del to Gov
2SHB 1941 Health home serv./children Couture Del to Gov
SHB 1942 Long-term care providers Fosse Del to Gov
HB 1943 National guard ed. grants Leavitt Del to Gov
HB 1946 Behav. health scholarship Eslick Del to Gov
HB 1950 Student loans/PSLF Slatter C 2 L 24
HB 1975 Unemployment overpayments Ortiz-Self C 8 L 24
HB 1982 Broadband loans & grants Waters Del to Gov
HB 2004 Military student early reg. McEntire Del to Gov
2SHB 2014 Definition of veteran Volz Del to Gov
ESHB 2019 Native American apprentices Stearns Del to Gov
2SHB 2084 Construction training/DOC Fosse Del to Gov
HB 2110 High school graduation Nance Del to Gov
HB 2111 Subsidized child care Nance Del to Gov
2SHB 2124 Child care prg. eligibility Eslick Del to Gov
SHB 2195 Early learning facilities Callan Del to Gov
2SHB 2214 College grant/public assist. Slatter Del to Gov
SHB 2216 State employee degree reqs. Cheney Del to Gov
SHB 2226 H-2A worker program data Ortiz-Self Del to Gov
SHB 2230 Economic security grants Peterson Del to Gov
ESHB 2236 Tech. ed. core plus programs Shavers Del to Gov
E2SHB 2247 Behavioral health providers Bateman Del to Gov
E2SHB 2311 First responder wellness Davis Del to Gov
HB 2415 Economic assistance/TANF Cortes Del to Gov
ESHB 2441 College in the HS fees Corry Del to Gov
ESSB 5481 Uniform telehealth act Cleveland Del to Gov
E2SSB 5670 Running start/rising juniors Hawkins Del to Gov
ESSB 5793 Paid sick leave Saldaña Del to Gov
E2SSB 5838 AI task force Nguyen Del to Gov
2SSB 5882 Prototypical school staffing Stanford Del to Gov
SB 5904 Financial aid terms Nobles Del to Gov
E2SSB 5908 Extended foster care Wilson, C. Del to Gov
SSB 5936 Palliative care work group Conway Del to Gov
SSB 5940 Medical assistant-EMT cert. Van De Wege Del to Gov
ESSB 5950 Operating budget, supp. Robinson Del to Gov
SSB 5953 Incarcerated student grants Wilson, C. Del to Gov
SB 5979 Construction worker leave Keiser Del to Gov
ESSB 6007 Grocery workers Conway Del to Gov
ESSB 6038 Child care tax preference Wilson, C. Del to Gov
SSB 6053 Education data sharing Holy Del to Gov
ESB 6089 Electrical inspector reqs. King Del to Gov
ESSB 6286 Nurse anesthetist workforce Rivers Del to Gov
ESB 6296 Retail industry work group Boehnke Del to Gov

The following 2024 Workforce Board budget requests have been submitted to the Office of Financial Management for review.

WAVE Modernization 

Decision Package 

One-Pager

The Washington Award for Vocational Excellence (WAVE) scholarship celebrates top CTE students at Washington high schools and community and technical colleges. As many as 147 awardees, three from each legislative district, are selected annually to receive a two-year college scholarship. WAVE was paused in 2010 due to budget cutbacks and relaunched in 2022 at only 2/3 the needed funding level. Students submit their applications through an aging online portal that requires significant one-on-one staff support to ensure successful submission. Requested funds will allow the purchase and launch of cloud-based scholarship management software, and the full scholarship level for each WAVE awardee.

Digital Literacy and IT Career Equity

Decision Package

One-Pager

Washington’s employers face a serious skilled IT worker shortage. Many people from disadvantaged and marginalized communities are unable to access these jobs, which offer outstanding wages and career opportunities. Public, private, state, and local collaborators will work together to close race, gender, ability, and other disparities in accessing and filling IT-related jobs. Partners will create, expand or scale on­-ramps to opportunities, through digital literacy education and credentials, an IT Service Corps, mentorship, and an industry-­informed education and career navigation tool, among other activities. Funds will also support worker preparation for thousands of new jobs created from federal grants.

LPN Apprenticeship Continuation 

Decision Package

One-Pager

The developing Home Care Aide/Nursing Assistant­ Certified to Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Registered Apprenticeship Program has made significant strides towards establishing a nursing career pathway that is an alternative to traditional nurse training. The LPN Registered Apprenticeship Program will open career opportunities to entry-­level staff in the long-­term care sector into positions of greater responsibility and financial success while continuing their current employment during training. Funding through FY27 will allow two full cohorts of apprentices to complete the Registered Apprenticeship Program and will allow us to support program expansion and measure the program’s impact through evaluation while building sustainability after state funding ends. The cost of this continuation funding is $2.4 million over the FY26–FY27 biennium.

Workforce Board Statutory Operation 

Decision Package 

One-Pager

The Workforce Board requests maintenance budget adjustments to support certain critical activities and functions necessary to comply with federal and state mandates. Request includes match to optimize federal CTE funds; provide cross­-agency research and evaluation; and restart dedicated services and activities to fully engage our business customers. Each functional area is rooted in either federal or state statutes, and/or aligns with a strategic priority within the statutorily required state strategic plan for workforce development. Each area also is designed to leverage federal, state, or philanthropic resources, and to maximize benefits for workers, employers, and communities of all types.

Human Resources Support

Decision Package

The Workforce Board has no dedicated human resources professional for training, recruitment, personnel issues, and other HR duties. Instead, this work is done by a few members of the fiscal and management team, who lack formal training and expertise for this work. Routine HR issues are being handled, but there is always a risk of a more serious issue that may require the work of a professional HR staff. Additionally, support is needed for items such as coaching, training and recruitment. These services will enable our agency to focus on our primary mission, with the confidence that the HR functions are being handled appropriately. Small Agency services at the Department of Enterprise Services provides this resource to other similarly sized agencies who may not have the in­house capacity or expertise for these sometimes­ complex services.

WaTech Small Agency IT Services 

Decision Package

The Workforce Board requests funding to onboard the WaTech Small Agency IT Services to bring the agency’s IT in alignment with modern standards and practices. Ongoing funding is needed to utilize WaTech Small Agency IT Services. These services would allow the agency to meet current IT and cybersecurity needs and integrate into the state enterprise environment for better connectivity with other state and local agencies.

Dec. 4, 2023: House Healthcare and Wellness Committee 

Policy Associate Renee Fullerton, Health Care Senior Researcher Chris Dula, and Long-Term Workforce Policy Manager Donald Smith, gave an overview of the Health Workforce Council and the Long Term Care Initiative.

Jan. 12, 2024: Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee

Policy Associate Renee Fullerton testifies in support of Senate Bill 6035, which seeks to better promote the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program to qualifying public service employees.

Jan. 17, 2024: House Postsecondary Education and Workforce Committee 

Workforce Board Co-Chair Larry Brown and Executive Director Eleni Papadakis testify on House Bill 2155, Creating the Washington Credential Registry.

Jan. 17, 2024: House Postsecondary Education and Workforce Committee

Workforce Board Co-Chair Larry Brown testifies on House Bill 2360, the Washington Digital Empowerment and Workforce Inclusion Act.

Jan. 19, 2024: House Postsecondary Education and Workforce Committee

Executive Director Eleni Papadakis testifies on House Bill 2360, the Washington Digital Empowerment and Workforce Inclusion Act.

Jan. 24, 2024: House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee

Career Pathways Manager Joe Wilcox testified in support of House Bill 2216, aimed at reducing barriers to state employment by reducing unnecessary degree requirements.

Jan. 24, 2024: House Human Services, Youth and Early Learning Committee

Workforce Service Integration Manager Drew Cassidy testifies in support of House Bill 2230, which seeks to codify the state Economic Security for All grant program.

View archived legislative presentations here.