Sen. Drew MacEwen saw two of his key legislative priorities reach the finish line this week as Gov. Bob Ferguson signed measures aimed at providing financial relief to Washingtonians and streamlining state infrastructure projects. Senate Bill 5874 and Senate Bill 5690 both focus on cutting through bureaucratic red tape to protect the state’s economy and its residents’ wallets.
MacEwen proposed SB 5874, which passed unanimously and was signed by the governor on March 14, in direct response to a surge in “gotcha” penalties hitting Washington’s small-business community. Since the state implemented new Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) reporting requirements, family businesses statewide have been hit with nearly $2 million in penalties for minor, inadvertent errors—many caused by third-party software glitches rather than negligence.
“Our small-business owners should be focusing on growing their companies and supporting their employees, not fighting the state over a technical typo,” said MacEwen, R-Shelton. “By allowing the Employment Security Department to waive these insignificant penalties, we are choosing support over punishment.”
The new law will prevent small businesses from being drained by fines (ranging from $75 to $250 per occurrence) for non-substantive reporting errors. It ensures that minor clerical mistakes do not become a financial crisis for local employers.
SB 5690 addresses the logistical and financial ripple effects of mandatory fish-barrier removal projects. The relocation of utility lines (power, water, and broadband) associated with these state-managed projects often carries a massive price tag—costs that are frequently passed directly to local utility customers.
“When the state moves a culvert, the cost to relocate the power or water lines shouldn’t automatically land on the family’s monthly utility bill,” MacEwen noted. “This legislation forces the state to coordinate better and, more importantly, to hunt down federal funding to cover those costs so our residents don’t have to.”
Signed by the governor today, the law created by MacEwen’s bill will require the Washington State Department of Transportation to provide utility owners with at least one year’s notice of planned projects and mandate that the state maximize federal funding for relocation costs. For everyday Washingtonians, this acts as a shield against sudden, sharp increases in their monthly utility rates.
The signing of these two bills marks a significant step in MacEwen’s efforts to make state government more accountable and less burdensome. By addressing the hidden costs of state mandates and reporting requirements, these laws provide tangible relief to both business owners and household ratepayers across Washington.
Both measures will take effect on June 11.