WSR 26-03-081

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF

LABOR AND INDUSTRIES

[Filed January 20, 2026, 10:56 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Stay-at-work online application; chapter 296-16A WAC, Stay-at-work program.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 51.04.020(1).

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The purpose of this rule making is to consider amending rules in chapter 296-16A WAC to require submitting Washington stay-at-work applications online with an option to opt out.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: No other state, local, or federal agency regulates this subject.

Process for Developing New Rule: Parties interested in this rule making may contact the individual listed below. The public may also participate by commenting after amendments are proposed by providing written comments and/or testimony during the public hearing and comment process. A public hearing will be held after the proposal is filed.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Annie Peeples, Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), Insurance Services, Employer Services, P.O. Box 44148, Olympia, WA 98504-4148, phone 360-902-4723, fax 360-902-4988, TTY 360-902-5797, email Annie.Peeples@Lni.wa.gov.

Additional comments: For more information on L&I rule making, visit L&I's rule-making activity web page at https://www.Lni.wa.gov/rulemaking-activity/.

January 20, 2026

Joel Sacks

Director