WA SB5626

Creates a wage replacement program for Washington workers who are ineligible for unemployment insurance solely because they were not authorized to work in the United States, with applications beginning January 1, 2027

Eligible applicants must be Washington residents, have worked 680 hours in their base year, be unemployed through no fault of their own, and complete a one-week waiting period; weekly payments mirror standard unemployment benefit calculations up to 26 weeks maximum

Establishes the Washington wage replacement account funded by a new employer surcharge of 0.01% for rate years 2026-2027, with rates thereafter capped at 0.08% combined with existing administrative contributions

Requires the Employment Security Department to contract with a third-party administrator by July 1, 2026 to operate the program, with strong confidentiality protections prohibiting disclosure of applicant information for immigration enforcement purposes

Creates an 11-member advisory committee including representatives of immigrants, workers, employers, and state commissions on African American, Hispanic, and Asian Pacific American affairs to oversee program implementation