Higher wages, increased animal protections, and free college tuition: these are just some of the changes happening in 2025 in Seattle and Washington state thanks to new and updated laws. Most of these new laws, unless otherwise noted, went into effect on January 1, 2025. Keep reading to be informed!
Here are 10 new laws in Washington state in 2025:
1. New minimum wage
Washington state’s minimum wage is raised annually, as it is tied to the cost of living and inflation. The minimum wage in Washington is now $16.66 an hour and Seattle’s new minimum wage is even higher at $20.76 per hour for 2025.
2. Higher salary for overtime exempt workers
Salary workers get a pay bump in 2025 due to a new threshold wage law that covers employees who are exempt from overtime pay. For employers with 50 or fewer employees, workers in Washington state will now earn a minimum of $69,305.60 a year and for employers with 51 or more employees, workers will now bring in a minimum of $77,968.80 a year.
3. Increased protection for orcas
As an amendment to a previous bill, Washington boaters must now stay at least 1,000 yards away from Southern Resident killer whales at all times (the distance used to be 300 yards).
4. Free college tuition
This law goes into effect later this year. Starting with the 2025-2026 academic year, students in grades 10 through 12 who receive Basic Food or Food Assistance Program benefits will automatically qualify to receive financial aid for college or career training from the Washington College Grant (WCG).
5. Negligent driving penalties
There is now a new charge for negligent driving that leads to the death of a pedestrian or biker: first-degree negligent driving with a vulnerable user victim. This charge comes with an increased fine and/or jail time.
6. Higher parking fines
2025 ushers in higher Seattle parking fines. The previous parking fine range (which has remained the same for 14 years) was $29 to $53. It has now been increased to a range of $43 to $78.
7. Animal-tested cosmetics ban
A Washington state law banning the sale of animal-tested cosmetics goes into effect in 2025. There are a few exceptions though, such as cosmetics tested in a different country in compliance with their laws, so you’ll still want to do some research on your cosmetic products if this is an important issue for you.
8. Guaranteed minimum wage for Uber and Lyft drivers
The new guaranteed pay for rideshare drivers is based on both time and mileage, with a higher rate applied to trips within Seattle. This doesn’t apply to food delivery drivers, however.
9. Ban on required overtime for healthcare workers
Hospital employees “involved in direct patient care” can no longer be required to work overtime (with a few exceptions), according to this new law going into effect in 2025 in Washington state.
10. Expanded paid sick leave policy
Finally, Washington state’s paid sick leave policy has been expanded in a few ways in 2025. Now employees can use their paid sick leave to care for anyone who lives with them or has a dependent relationship on them, as well as when a child’s school or place of care is closed due to an emergency declaration.