Legislative resources

Government Relations

The role of the Government Relations Office is to assist the legislature and governor in ensuring Washington has efficient and effective workforce-development and unemployment insurance systems. The office does that by communicating data and analysis to state policy makers and elected officials.

Participate in the agency's rule-making process.

View additional resources for legislative and other government staff.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) 

DUA was activated on Feb. 7, 2022, to help workers impacted by the floods in specific counties and tribal lands from Nov. 5 to Dec. 2, 2021. The federal declaration for the November storm events occurred on Jan. 5, 2022, and DUA benefits can be paid retroactively for weeks you were unemployed as a direct result of the disaster.

People who live or work in the following areas could be eligible to receive DUA: Clallam, Skagit and Whatcom counties, as well as tribal lands held by the federally recognized Lummi Nation, Nooksack Indian Tribe and Quileute Tribe.

More information:

• ESD’s DUA webpage.
• Presentation giving DUA overview, information for employers, the application process
• News release

Legislative reports (PDF)

2022 Paid Family and Medical Leave Voluntary Plan Costs and Fees
2022 ESSB 5193 Quarterly Report (Q1)
2022 ESSB 5097 Family Member Expansion Analysis
2021 ESSB 5193 Quarterly Report (Q4)
2021 Annual Labor Market and Economic Report 
2021 Paid Family and Medical Leave Program Participation by Industry
2021 Paid Family and Medical Leave Voluntary Plan Report
2021 Paid Family and Medical Leave Annual Report
2021 UI Google CCAI Report
2021 Taxable wage report
Unemployment benefits for undocumented workers
2021 Impact of increasing the weekly minimum benefit amount
2021 ESSB 5193 Quarterly Report (Q3)
2021 Confidentiality of ESD Records and Data
2021 Integrating Paid Leave and Help Me Grow Report
2021 Financial Services Report
2021 ESSB 5193 Annual Report on Reserve Adjudicator Training
2021 UI Staffing Report
2021 Paid Leave Program Needs and Resources
2021 ESSB 5193 Quarterly Report (Q2)
2021 Upgrading the Unemployment Insurance Call Center Phone System Report
2021 Employment Services to Individuals with Disabilities Report
2020 Labor Market and Economic Report
2020 Agricultural and Seasonal Workforce Services Report
2020 Paid Leave Program Report
2020 Integrating Paid Leave and Help Me Grow Report
2020 Unemployment insurance voluntary quit report
Archived reports

Training Benefits reports (PDF)

Training Benefits Program Report
Net Impact Study for the Training Benefits Program 2002 through 2016 - technical report
Net Impact Study for the Training Benefits Program 2002 through 2016 - plain talk
2016 Training Benefits Annual Report
2015 Training Benefits Annual Report
2015 Training Benefits Net Impact Study
Effect of community and technical college course work
Historical reports

2022 Supplemental Budget Requests (PDF)

2022 Supplemental Budget Transmittal Letter
FA-FTE Staffing Adjustment Decision Package
ES-EcSA Economic Security for All Decision Package
9F-Federal Funding Adjustment Decision Package
WS-WorkSource System Replacement Decision Package

Other plans and reports (PDF)

IT Strategic Plan (2021)
2021 Opioid Evaluation Report

Additional resources and information

Employment Security Advisory Committee (ESAC)
Governor's Committee on Disability Issues and Employment (GCDE)
Search the Washington State Legislature website for bills by number or description
Fast facts