Five Washington State Laws Effective July 1st

On July 1st, a set of new laws came into force across Washington, impacting areas from traffic enforcement to employment policies. Among these, the state is expanding the use of work zone cameras, signaling stricter monitoring in construction areas. Retired public employees and teachers in Plan One of the Public Employees Retirement System and Teachers Retirement System received a one-time cost of living adjustment: a 3% increase capped at $110.

Certain data centers now face higher tax obligations, as Washington has removed a sales and use tax exemption for replacing and modernizing equipment. This shift aligns with growing scrutiny of data centers regarding water supply and noise pollution concerns. New job seeker protections were also enacted—employers with 15 or more employees can no longer reject applicants solely based on criminal records, and cannot inquire about criminal history until after a job offer is extended. Smaller employers have an additional year to comply with these regulations.

Additional details and further laws taking effect are available from Fox 13 Seattle's coverage.