Washington has enacted Senate Bill 6014, introducing refinements to the state’s pregnancy‑related accommodation requirements. The legislation amends existing unfair practice provisions under chapter 49.92 RCW by clarifying when employers may request written certification to support accommodation requests. Notably, the bill removes the ability for employers to require documentation for several basic accommodations, including those listed in RCW 49.92.010(6)(a), (b), (d), and (h), as well as limitations on lifting more than 17 pounds. These changes reinforce Washington’s intent to ensure that pregnant employees can access essential workplace adjustments without unnecessary administrative barriers.
In addition to modifying employer obligations, Senate Bill 6014 establishes new confidentiality protections for records maintained by the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I). The bill creates a public records exemption that shields identifying personal information related to employees who file pregnancy‑accommodation complaints or participate in related investigations. L&I must now maintain these records in a manner that prevents disclosure of names, personal identifiers, or other information that could reveal an individual’s identity. The department may, however, release statistical or summary data so long as it does not compromise confidentiality.
These changes are effective on January 1, 2027.