The 2022 Legislative Law Review was completed and emailed to all WR dues-paying members yesterday. This document is also available on the WR website under the members-only section.

The WR Government Affairs team reviewed 1,570 bills and tracked 142. The Law Review is a 28-page compilation of legislation that passed and tracked bills that failed. Please share with your internal teams only­, as this is not a public document.

The 2022 Legislature passed some significant new laws. Of note was Senate Bill 5873, which will help reduce many businesses’ unemployment insurance taxes which spiked because of the pandemic induced layoffs. House Bills 1732 and 1733, the first bills passed and signed into law this year, delayed the implementation of the Long-Term Care Program and employee tax for 18 months. Also of importance was WR helping to stop House Bill 1837, which would have allowed the Department of Labor and Industries to adopt a new, expensive, one-size-fits-all, complex, unnecessary ergonomics law with little hope of successful implementation or providing any meaningful return on investment.

Among the most significant missed opportunities in the Law Review was the failure to pass any of the four retail theft-related bills. Additionally, the sales tax holiday for back-to-school, House Bill 2018, was put down most likely by budget writers at the end of session.

We couldn’t be successful without the participation of WR members on our Policy and Government Affairs Committee. Thanks to all who attended the weekly calls, contacted their legislators, and especially those who testified at committee hearings – it is much appreciated!

If you have any questions about the Legislative Law Review, please don’t hesitate to contact Mark Johnson, V.P. of Government Affairs.