WA SB6135

Amends RCW 41.56.530 to add "financial ability of the employer to pay" as a required consideration for interest arbitration panels when determining wages, hours, and conditions of employment for uniformed personnel (police and firefighters)

Requires arbitration panels for employees under RCW 41.56.030(14)(a) through (d) to consider both west coast wage comparisons and the employer's financial ability to pay for compensation and benefits

Requires arbitration panels for employees under RCW 41.56.030(14)(e) through (h), covering public fire department personnel, to similarly consider employer financial ability alongside comparable west coast fire department wages

Applies to cities/towns with populations under 15,000 and counties with populations under 70,000, where regional cost of living differences must also be considered

Sponsored by Senator King for the 2026 Regular Session of the 69th Legislature