Washington legislature passes bill to bar employers from forcing workers to be microchipped

Washington lawmakers approved House Bill 2303 to prohibit employers from requesting or requiring subcutaneous microchip implants for employees, and the measure now awaits Governor Bob Ferguson's signature.

Washington lawmakers have approved legislation that would forbid employers from requiring workers to have subcutaneous microchip implants. The measure, House Bill 2303, passed the state Senate unanimously after an 87-6 vote in the House and now awaits Governor Bob Ferguson's signature. Sponsors presented the bill as a preemptive protection before the technology becomes widespread. Medical devices used for diagnosis, monitoring, or treatment are explicitly exempted. Key details: - House Bill 2303 passed the Senate unanimously and the House by an 87-6 vote. - If signed by the governor, Washington would become the 14th state to ban mandatory workplace microchipping. - The legislation bars employers from requesting, requiring, or coercing employees or job applicants to receive subcutaneous microchip implants. - The bill defines a microchip as a device implanted beneath the skin that contains identification numbers or personal information retrievable by external scanners, and it exempts medical devices used for health care. - Workers who face employer demands for implants could sue and potentially recover actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees. - The article notes that no U.S. companies currently require microchipping, though similar implants have been used in limited voluntary trials elsewhere. Summary: The bill is intended to protect workers' bodily autonomy by banning employer-required subcutaneous microchips and by establishing legal remedies for affected employees. The measure now awaits the governor's decision; if he signs it, the prohibition would take effect and Washington would join other states that have passed similar bans.