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OLYMPIA — The Washington State House of Representatives has passed legislation sponsored by Rep. Hunter Abell, R-Inchelium, to protect port district employees from being forced to pay into multiple retirement systems for the same job.
House Bill 2179 addresses a conflict in state law that, under a recent interpretation, could require certain port employees already enrolled in federally regulated or union-sponsored pension systems to also participate in the Washington Public Employees’ Retirement System. The bill creates a clear exemption for workers covered by a Federal Railroad Retirement Plan or a union-sponsored defined benefit plan and applies that exemption both moving forward and retroactively to periods when those employer contributions were made.
“This was never the intent of the law, yet workers were suddenly facing the possibility of paying into two retirement systems at once,” said Abell. “That is not just unfair. In rural communities like Pend Oreille County, it is economically unsustainable.”
The measure responds to a situation affecting employees at the Port of Pend Oreille and potentially other port districts where workers have long participated in federally regulated railroad retirement or collectively bargained pension plans. Without legislative clarification, both employees and port districts could have faced significant unexpected costs.
The version passed by the House reflects the same narrow policy goal considered in committee, maintaining the bill’s focus on resolving the statutory conflict without expanding benefits or creating new retirement obligations. Lawmakers described the change as a targeted correction to ensure existing retirement structures are recognized under state law.
Committee testimony emphasized that the issue is limited in scope but urgent in impact. Supporters explained that Port of Pend Oreille employees have participated in the federal system since the 1980s and warned that failing to act could trigger back contributions for both workers and the port. Testifiers also noted the bill protects building trades employees at other facilities where employers already contribute to negotiated pension plans. No opposition testimony was presented.
“This is a practical fix to a technical problem that carried very real consequences,” said Abell. “We heard clearly that without clarification, workers and local employers could face duplicate costs for benefits they are already earning elsewhere.”
Abell credited his seatmate, Sen. Shelly Short, for leading the effort in the Senate and working closely with port officials, employees and state agencies to resolve the issue.
“Senator Short has worked tirelessly with the port workers and stakeholders to bring this issue forward and keep momentum on a solution,” said Abell. “This kind of coordination between the House and Senate is exactly how we make sure rural communities are treated fairly under state law.”
Senate Bill 5905, sponsored by Short, serves as the companion measure and passed the Senate unanimously last week.
House Bill 2179 now moves to the Senate for further consideration.
