Washington Employers Should Prepare Now for the State’s New Ban on Noncompete Agreements

April 2026
Employment Law Notes
On March 23, 2026, Governor Bob Ferguson signed a new law banning noncompetition agreements in Washington. In doing so, Washington will join other states with similar bans, including California, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Oklahoma. The new law specifically references the Federal Trade Commission’s failed attempt to create a nationwide ban in its 2024 Final Rule, an effort that was abandoned in 2025 following court challenges. […]