Employment & Worker Protection · Washington
Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act
SB 5761 - enacted in Washington.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2022
- Enacted
- 51
- States with employment & worker protection laws
- 62/100
- Washington strictness
The bottom line
Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act is an enacted law in Washington, part of a mature, broadly-adopted employment & worker protection landscape.
- Enacted
- effective 2023-01-01
- 51
- states have employment & worker protection laws
- 107/107
- employment & worker protection laws enacted nationally
- 62/100
- Washington strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official Washington legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act
Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (SB 5761) is an enacted law in Washington under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2022-03-30 and becomes effective on 2023-01-01. Washington currently reports 7 tracked regulations with 7 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 62/100 relative to the national baseline. PlainRegWatch compiled this entry's data on 2026-03-18; consult the linked official source for the current, authoritative text.
Nationally, 107 employment & worker protection statutes have been enacted and 0 additional bills remain pending - 51 distinct jurisdictions have codified rules in this area so far. That places Washington within a mature and broadly adopted employment & worker protection landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in SB 5761 itself.
Applicability under Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act: 15+ employees in WA. Penalty exposure is documented as: AG enforcement. Notable exemptions: Under 15 employees..
Summary
Pay ranges + benefits for 15+ employee employers.
Key Requirements
Pay range in postings. Benefits description. 3-year records.
Penalties
AG enforcement.
Applicability
15+ employees in WA.
Exemptions
Under 15 employees.
Official Source
https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5761&Year=2021How Washington compares on employment & worker protection
51 states regulate employment & worker protection - Washington ranks #9 by overall regulatory strictness. Bar = state strictness score (0–100).
| # | State | Strictness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 100 |
| 2 | Colorado | 76 |
| 3 | Texas | 69 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 62 |
| 5 | Illinois | 62 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 62 |
| 7 | New York | 62 |
| 8 | Oregon | 62 |
| 9 | Washington (this state) | 62 |
| 10 | Delaware | 59 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states have employment & worker protection regulations?
As of the last verification, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection regulations, with 0 additional bills pending across other states. Washington is among the states that has enacted such legislation. Browse all employment & worker protection regulations at plainregwatch.com for the complete state-by-state comparison.
When was Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act enacted?
Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act was enacted on 2022-03-30 and became effective on 2023-01-01. It was introduced as SB 5761.
What are the penalties for violating Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act?
AG enforcement. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act apply to small businesses?
15+ employees in WA. Many state regulations include thresholds or exemptions for smaller organizations. Review the full applicability criteria and consult legal counsel to determine your obligations.
How does Washington compare to other states on employment & worker protection?
Washington has a regulatory strictness score of 62/100, based on 7 enacted regulations out of 7 tracked. Nationally, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection laws. Visit our state comparison page for a full ranking.
Where can I read the full text of Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act?
The official text of Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (SB 5761) is available from the Washington legislature. PlainRegWatch links to the official source for every tracked regulation. We recommend reviewing the full statute alongside qualified legal counsel for compliance planning.
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Disclaimer: This summary is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulation details may have changed since this data was compiled (2026-03-18). Always consult official sources and qualified legal counsel for compliance guidance.
More Washington Regulations
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for employment & worker protection compliance.
- Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act is enacted in Washington, effective 2023-01-01. Official source
- 51 states now regulate employment & worker protection; Washington ranks #9 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation Washington tracks across all five policy areas. Washington profile
Summaries are general information, not legal advice; always confirm against the official statute and qualified counsel.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Verify with the official Washington source →
Every figure on PlainRegWatch is rendered directly from state source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal and state source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.