Washington Expands Lactation, Pregnancy Accommodations for All Employers
Effective Jan. 1, 2027, Washington’s SB 5217 extends the Healthy Starts Act to employers of any size – dropping the current 15-employee threshold to one or more employees – and adds new compliance obligations for lactation and pregnancy accommodations.
Lactation breaks must now be paid at the employee’s regular compensation rate, including travel time to the pumping location. Employers may not require workers to use paid leave for these breaks, which must be provided in addition to required meal and rest periods. The law also adds scheduling flexibility for postpartum medical visits.
Enforcement shifts from the Attorney General to the Department of Labor and Industries, which can issue civil penalties. Employers should review and update lactation and pregnancy-accommodation policies and provide manager training before the new year.
More info: SB 5217
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