A shorter workweek and un-banning the switchblade
Plus helping tenants buy their homes and a look back at the deal that kept the Seahawks in Seattle
This week marks the first major procedural deadline of the 2025 Legislatures, the house-of-origin policy cutoff. That means that most bills must be voted out of policy committees by the end of the day on Wednesday. (Caveat: There’s a giant loophole for anything with a significant budgetary impact, including tax proposals.) Today we take a look at some interesting things that might not make it past that hurdle.
A four-day work week?
Last week brought us a hearing on a utopian bill (at least for us working stiffs) that would give everyone a four-day work week, or give us overtime pay on the fifth day of work. HB 2611, sponsored by Rep. Shaun Scott, D-Seattle, would require employers to pay overtime and accrue sick leave after every 32 hours worked in a week.
The bill isn’t likely to go anywhere, but oh boy did the mere suggestion of a 32-hour work week piss some people off. The Washington Food Association, Washington Hospitality Association,1 and the Washington Farm Bureau all showed up to testify against it. All three groups represent businesses that depend heavily on low-wage labor. Their arguments were generally what would be expected: that it would cost a lot of money for already cash-strapped industries. Meanwhile, employees would get fewer hours, and therefore less money, as employers chose not to pay overtime.
