SB 5886 completed its journey through the Legislature on February 22 with a unanimous vote of approval in the House. No amendments were added to the bill in the House policy committee or on the floor, so the bill has now passed both chambers of the Legislature and will go to the Governor’s desk for his signature.

Senate passes expansion of firefighter best practices grants

February 9, 2024

SB 5886 passed out of the Senate on February 1 on a 49-0 vote with no amendments. It will now head to the House for consideration. The House version, HB 1986 passed out of the House with a unanimous vote on February 6.

Dates to remember

SB 5886 is scheduled for a committee vote in the House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee on Friday, February 16 at 10:30 am.

Bills to expand uses of L&I firefighter best practices grants get week 2 hearings

January 12, 2024

Companion bills to expand the use of Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) grants for firefighter best practices are both getting hearings during week 2.

Under current law, fire departments that implement best practices for proactively reducing risk of illness or injuries on the job receive a discount on their workers’ compensation premiums, up to 10%. L&I is currently authorized to use 2% of firefighter premiums to provide grants to fire departments with limited resources for purchase of equipment and gear needed to comply with best practices.

Companion bills HB 1986 and SB 5886 permit L&I to use those funds for grants to pay for assessments or training related to firefighter safety.

Making it easier for more fire departments to comply with best practices and qualify for workers’ compensation premium discounts could be an important step for many fire departments. In 2024, firefighters’ workers comp premiums skyrocketed by an additional 15% over 2023 rates. The only reason the rates didn’t go higher was that L&I decided to artificially cap the rates at 15%. Much of the rate increases in recent years have been driven by PTSD claims, so additional resources to prevent injuries and illnesses on the job can be an important factor for controlling costs and keeping city fire departments in the black.

AWC supports both these bills.

Dates to remember

HB 1986 is scheduled for public hearing in the House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee on Wednesday, January 17 at 8 am.

SB 5886 is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee on Monday, January 15 at 10:30 am.