WA HB1738

Expands the definition of "uniformed services" throughout Washington state law to include the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps, granting members equivalent benefits to armed forces veterans

Extends hiring preferences in public employment to uniformed service members and military spouses, adding 10% to passing exam scores for those who served during wartime without military retirement, and 5% for others

Allows professional licenses to remain valid during uniformed service and permits military spouses to place licenses in inactive status while stationed outside Washington, with simplified renewal within six months of return

Credits military and uniformed service time (up to 5 years) toward public pension benefits for firefighters, police officers, and state employees who left employment to serve and received qualifying discharges

Establishes permissive hiring preference in private employment for veterans, uniformed service members with qualifying discharges, military spouses, and spouses of veterans with service-connected permanent disabilities