Effective August 2025, new King County employees, along with other new county, municipal, and political subdivision employees throughout Washington, can be automatically enrolled in the deferred compensation savings plan. This makes Washington one of only 10 states to have automatic enrollment allowed for all public sector plans.

“Our public employees work extremely hard and we appreciate their service,” said Governor Bob Ferguson. “This bill makes it easier for them to access their employer’s retirement plan without additional steps or paperwork.”

“And I am honored to sign it into law,” he added.

Pictured: Governor Bob Ferguson, center, stands with members of the King County Employees Deferred Compensation Plan Board, including Board Administrator O.C. Collier, second from right, and Board Chair Sherry Stroud, far right.

This successful legislation, signed by the Governor on April 24, 2025, has been advocated largely by Osceola “O.C.” Collier, King County Employees Deferred Compensation Plan Board Administrator. She has been working with King County leadership and collaborating to implement auto enrollment for WA State. There was previously no state legislation allowing auto enrollment of new employees in the employer’s deferred compensation plan.

“With inflation rising and Social Security’s future uncertain, planning for retirement matters more than ever,” O.C. said. “Washington’s new HB 1270 helps by allowing automatic enrollment into deferred compensation plans for government employees – making it easier to save for the future.”

Much of the language within HB 1270 was provided by King County, because the county was already working a legislative change for automatic enrollment for all new employees.  O.C. was able to be part of a joint effort between King County, the City of Seattle, and the Washington Department of Retirement Systems to successfully update the language to include all Washington State government agencies. She also worked with multiple groups, including the Office of Labor Relations and several unions, to get auto enrollment for represented employees.

“Getting this legislation changed has been a long-time goal for me and I am ecstatic that it is finally done,” she said.

Until the passing of HB 1270, King County was only able to offer employees optional deferred compensation plan enrollment.  Now new employees can be auto enrolled when hired, with the opportunity to take advantage of a supplemental retirement plan upon retiring and an option to opt out if they choose.  Also depending on their situation, the plan allows for loans and hardship withdrawals if possible.

“This bill supports our efforts to ensure all employees have an opportunity for a supplemental retirement savings to build financial and generational wealth through the Deferred Compensation Plan with King County”, said Sherry Stroud, Benefits, Payroll and Retirement Operations Section Manager within the Department of Human Resources (DHR) and Chair of the Deferred Compensation Plan at King County.

As such a major statewide accomplishment, this work was recognized by the National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators (NAGDCA) and is being submitted for presidential award recipient.

To view the formal signing of House Bill 1270, view the official recording here.